Ulster Unionist Party leader Mr David Trimble is tonight fighting a motion of no confidence in his own constituency as rival factions within the party continued to row over policy.
Just a day after he lost a High Court action over the suspension of three rebel MPs, Mr Trimble faces the verdict of his 260-strong Upper Bann constituency association.
The Belfast High Court yesterday ruled that attempts by Mr Trimble and the party leadership to suspend MPs Jeffrey Donaldson, the Rev Martin Smyth and David Burnside were unlawful because the Disciplinary Committee set up to deal with them was not properly convened.
Mr Donaldson, the Rev Smyth and Mr Burnside last month resigned the party whip over the Ulster Unionist Council's refusal to totally reject proposals from the British and Irish Governments on the future of the peace process.
Their decision widened divisions between pro and anti Good Friday Agreement wings in the UUP.
A motion of no confidence against Mr Donaldson in his Lagan Valley constituency was withdrawn following the UUC vote "in the interests of party unity".
However the motion of no confidence which will be heard tonight in Upper Bann against Mr Trimble remained. Party sources expected the UUP leader to survive.
The result of the motion is not expected to be known until later tonight. PA