The revised policing implementation plan, part of the two governments' package of salvage proposals, is expected to be published tomorrow.
The pro-Belfast Agreement parties had a glimpse of the 75page document when they met the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, on August 3rd.
While none of the parties at the time was prepared to give a reaction after studying the plan for a few minutes, it is expected unionists will react angrily to the document, which is said to revert to the original recommendations in the Patten Report on policing.
British government sources have indicated the plan would not differ from what had been discussed with the parties at last month's Weston Park talks in England.
The revised policing implementation plan is reported to convey greater powers to the Policing Board as well as to incorporate the Special Branch in ordinary detective units. The elimination of the full-time reserve is also likely to be contained in the plan.
Since May 1998 the RUC's strength has decreased by about 2,000 officers to 10,770. More than 1,000 officers have left the force since the publication of the Patten Report, with another 200 due to leave before the end of March 2002. July figures show 800 officers were on day-sick leave.
Unionists have expressed concern about the force's low morale, something they fear could be exacerbated by the revised implementation plan, which they see as a further concession to nationalists.
Sinn Fein has repeatedly called for the publication of the implementation plan, saying it would not respond to the two governments' proposals prior to it.
The party also demands to see legislative amendments to the Policing Act as well as a proposed document on a review of the Criminal Justice system before adopting a final position on the package.
The SDLP has also made its response to the governments' salvage package dependent on the contents of the policing implementation plan.