Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley will this morning introduce his party's team of four ministers who will share power in a restored executive next month.
The party's Assembly member for Lagan Valley Edwin Poots is expected to be named as minister at the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure.
Fermanagh and South Tyrone Assembly member, solicitor and ex-Ulster Unionist Arlene Foster will assume control at the Department of Environment.
The DUP's deputy leader Peter Robinson has, as expected, been given the finance and personnel portfolio while North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds will be unveiled as minister for trade and enterprise.
Mr Poots' appointment is likely to be the talking point of the DUP's choice of ministers. His duties will include a decision over an Irish Language Act and the locating of a 45,000-capacity sports stadium for the North. He has in the past advocated locating the stadium at the Maze prison outside Belfast, while others argue it should be sited in Ormeau Park in south Belfast.
Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey has defended his choice of ministers for the party's choice of the departments of employment, learning and health: Mr Empey for the former and South Belfast Assembly member Michael McGimpsey for the latter.
Mr Empey told BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politics that with the two ministries, the party would be in charge of 55 per cent of the executive's budget.
He said health was a conscious choice: "We decided to take health because we know it's a bed of nails. We know it's difficult but 80 per cent of people regard it as their main priority; if devolution is to mean anything we shouldn't run away from difficult decisions."
He defended the choice of Mr McGimpsey, a surprise given expectations that North Down assembly member Alan McFarland - who ran against Mr Empey for the leadership of the party - would take a ministerial role.
"Mr McGimpsey is someone who will do a good job and who has the experience, has the background and is not going to take any nonsense," said.
Meanwhile, deputy first minister designate, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness has given an insight into his working relationship with first minister designate Dr Ian Paisley.
He told RTÉ Radio 1's This Week that a number of face-to-face meetings between the DUP and Sinn Féin had taken place since March 26th .
"We are progressing, I think, very well. The discussions are taking place in a very positive and constructive atmosphere. I am absolutely convinced that we are moving now decisively towards restoration of power sharing and all Ireland institutions on May 8th . . . To be honest I couldn't be happier with how things are progressing."
He said he was "convinced" of Dr Paisley's commitment to joining a devolved executive next month. "That's a good thing and all credit to Ian Paisley and those in the DUP who support him. We have worked hard in the last years to see a situation where these institutions would be restored and the DUP would be in them."
He said people were looking on with "considerable amazement, willing us to get it right and I think we will get it right".
He vowed ministers from otherwise opposing parties would work together in an executive.
Mr McGuinness defended his declaration at Easter Rising commemorations last week that the "countdown" to a united Ireland had begun.
"It [a united Ireland] is a very legitimate case to put. We are an Irish republican party and the only all-Ireland party, and we are determined to be in government North and South."
He claimed unionists at grassroots level and in the business community recognised that an all-Ireland economy was best and had even "conceded openly" that a united Ireland was "inevitable".
"We have to manage this in a positive and sensible way that doesn't scare people off . . . that it is not something that should be feared but will bring about increased prosperity for them and their children."
But Democratic Unionist leader Dr Ian Paisley differed in an interview published on the website of the Washington Times.
"It is quite clear to everybody there is going to be no united Ireland for 100 years, at least," he said.