Ulster Unionists gather today at Belfast's Waterfront Hall for the centenary meeting of the party's ruling Ulster Unionist Council, which the Trimble leadership hopes will galvanise the party ahead of May's vital election.
The meeting will be the first since constitutional reforms, enacted since the last gathering, have helped to centralise the UUP and strengthen the power of the elected leadership over diverse constituent groups.
After the rules were passed last year, David Trimble said they would "centralise and transform the party from a loose coalition of associations to a modern political force".
Unlike last year Mr Trimble will not be challenged for the leadership. Last March he saw off a challenge from two relative unknowns within his party ranks and secured his grip on the leader's job with an increased share of the vote.
Mr Trimble won 59.8 per cent of the votes from the 900-strong council. His challengers, Coleraine management consultant David Hoey won 21.6 per cent, while Portadown businessman Robert Oliver polled 17.6 per cent. He has defeated many challenges to his policy, especially on the question of powersharing with Sinn Féin, throughout the 10 years of his leadership.
But the last council saw only the second direct leadership contest. Five years ago he faced a bid to oust him when South Belfast MP Rev Martin Smyth took 43 per cent of the vote.
Leadership challenges were once allowed on the day of the council meeting. This time however, notice has to be submitted in advance. Last Friday's deadline for such notification has passed with no challenger stepping forward.
Today's leader's speech will be delivered in private and The Irish Times understands Mr Trimble will use his address to prepare his party for the expected May election and a fresh clash with the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists for the leadership of the unionist community.
Party insiders suggest Mr Trimble will refer to ongoing paramilitary and criminal activity, particularly by the IRA. He is also expected to concentrate on what a party source referred to as "rebuilding the centre ground in Northern Ireland politics".
This will set the tone for the forthcoming Westminster and local council elections which will be the most crucial Mr Trimble and his party have yet contested.
Specifically, the UUP leader will face a high-profile challenge in his Upper Bann constituency from the DUP, but it is the general picture across Northern Ireland's 18 Westminster constituencies which will determine the course of the Trimble leadership.
He may well accuse the DUP of being poor negotiators and of readiness to trade further "concessions" on the Belfast Agreement to secure power in a restored Stormont.
The party has already staged ceremonies to mark the centenary of the first council on March 3rd, 1905, which worked to focus opposition to the third Home Rule Bill at Westminster.
Mr Trimble has laid a wreath at the grave of Lord Carson at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast while ceremonies have also been taking place at all the graves of former leaders, including Sir James Craig at Stormont. And last night the party staged a gala dinner.
While the party had an original membership of around 200, the current council is diverse and includes the unionist associations in each of the Westminster constituencies as well as representatives from the Grand Orange Lodge among other groups.