Mr David Trimble is prepared to force a fresh contest for the Ulster Unionist leadership in a final showdown with critics and rivals plotting his downfall.
The Irish Times has been told that Mr Trimble would "do a John Major" and risk everything on a "back me or sack me" leadership gamble should he lose a "confidence" vote at his party's ruling Ulster Unionist Council (UUC) on Saturday.
Confirmation that Mr Trimble will not voluntarily relinquish the leadership comes just days before the latest challenge to his authority at the UUC, this time over the proposed disciplinary action against the three UUP MPs, the Rev Martin Smyth, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson and Mr David Burnside, who resigned the party whip last month.
It also coincides with an intensification of behind-the-scenes talks involving a number of MPs, party officers and former Assembly members about the possible policy basis on which they might promote a "dream ticket" alternative to the Trimble leadership centred on Mr Donaldson and former Stormont minister and close Trimble ally Sir Reg Empey.
Trimble loyalists will table an amendment to the main motion for Saturday's UUC meeting, almost certainly answering calls for greater party unity with demands that the three MPs resume the party whip at Westminster and agree to abide by majority decisions on party policy in relation to the Belfast Agreement and attempts to restore the Stormont Assembly.
However, while Mr Trimble believes he can win Saturday's vote, authoritative sources have made it clear that he will disregard any defeat on the disciplinary issue. Specifically, Mr Trimble has told close colleagues he would not "oblige" his opponents in that event by himself seeking confirmation of the council's continuing confidence in his leadership.
And it was confirmed last night that should his opponents follow up any victory on Saturday with a successful no confidence motion at yet another meeting of the UUC, Mr Trimble would follow the example of the former British prime minister, Mr John Major, and force his rivals to challenge him directly in a leadership contest.
After years of torment at the hands of his Euro-sceptic opponents, Mr Major famously quit the Conservative leadership in July 1995 only to reclaim it in the subsequent contest with former cabinet colleague Mr John Redwood.
Anticipating a similar scenario in a final attempt to end his party's civil war over the Belfast Agreement, one source close to Mr Trimble said last night: "He won't quit in any circumstances. He absolutely believes his leadership is vital to the survival of progressive unionist politics in Northern Ireland. Even if they pass a vote of no confidence, he will open the door to the challenge and submit his name for re-election."