The former leader and president of the Ulster Unionist Party have supported the DUP Westminster candidate in South Belfast.
Both Lord Molyneaux, who led the party until 1995, and the Rev Martin Smyth, a leading Trimble critic who has been South Belfast MP since 1982, have appeared in a photograph on Jim Spratt's election literature.
Mr Smyth is quoted on the leaflet saying that Mr Spratt would "make an excellent member for parliament". Mr Spratt, a former RUC officer said: "The two gentlemen came to back me voluntarily."
Lord Molyneaux has also signalled his support for Jeffrey Donaldson, who defected from the Ulster Unionists to the DUP in Lagan Valley 14 months ago.
Michael McGimpsey, the Ulster Unionist candidate who is standing on a pro-agreement ticket, yesterday played down the move by his party colleagues. He claimed the appearance of Mr Smyth and Lord Molyneaux alongside his DUP challenger did not amount to an official endorsement.
"A photograph itself is not an endorsement, despite DUP spin. The Queen has been pictured with Ian Paisley. This does not mean that the House of Windsor supports the DUP.
"What today's news underlines is the DUP's scorched earth policy towards unionism. The DUP know they cannot win South Belfast, just as they know that they cannot win Fermanagh and South Tyrone," he said.
A UUP spokesman said the support for the DUP candidate was most unwelcome, claiming it would only enhance the chances of SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell.
"Spratt cannot win. It seems the DUP's primary objective is to damage the UUP, even if that means allowing the SDLP to capitalise on a split unionist vote," he said.
UUP leader David Trimble is expected to refer to the affair in his first major press conference of the Westminster campaign at UUP headquarters this morning.
Dr McDonnell said the contest was now firmly a three-cornered fight. "The views of these two gentlemen are settled and well-known and can hardly come as any surprise. They have consistently opposed change," he said.
Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey is contesting the seat along with the Alliance Party's Geraldine Rice.
Mr Maskey said if the DUP had confidence in its position in South Belfast it would have run one of its local representatives. "It hasn't done that," he said.