Sir John Stevens, who heads the investigation of alleged collusion between the RUC and loyalist killers, is due to visit Northern Ireland later this week, increasing speculation on an announcement concerning the Finucane murder.
The visit is pencilled in for Thursday and, according to a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police in London, which Sir John leads, is subject to final confirmation.
Rumours abound that the Stevens report, the publication of which is already much delayed, will not be fully released and may not be made available to the Policing Board.
Questions persist about the logistics of the publication.
Mr Hugh Orde, now the Chief Constable of the PSNI, was formerly the day-to-day head of the Stevens investigation and therefore will have helped prepare much of the report that will be handed to him later this year.
The visit by Sir John comes at a sensitive time, with talks at Hillsborough tomorrow on the political impasse hosted by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair.
Tomorrow is also the 14th anniversary of the murder of the prominent lawyer, Mr Pat Finucane, by loyalists. Delays in the publication of the report have prompted worries in some quarters about political motivation.
Mr Orde told The Irish Times last August on the eve of his taking up leadership of the PSNI that more time was needed to interview a senior British military figure in Beijing.
However, one well-placed source said last night that numerous new leads emanating from British army files needed to be examined. This is demanding more time.
Sir John and Mr Orde have already referred to the possibility of files being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions as a result of the Stevens inquiry.
A Policing Board source told The Irish Times last night it was believed that the board would be given details of the Stevens findings.
Questions remaining centre on the how, and not if, the report would be given to the 19-member board.