A veteran DUP MLA has been "deselected" as an Assembly election candidate for the party in East Belfast.
Former Stormont Speaker Robin Newton is set to be replaced on the DUP ticket by local councillor David Brooks, it is understood.
In North Belfast, councillor Brian Kingston is lined up to be the DUP's second candidate alongside deputy leader and current MLA Paula Bradley.
It follows DUP North Belfast MLA William Humphrey deciding not to stand for re-election in May.
DUP East Londonderry MLA George Robinson is widely expected to step down from the Assembly.
It is believed he will be succeeded as a party candidate in the constituency by his son, Limavady councillor Alan Robinson, who works in his constituency office.
The changes emerge amid growing tensions over Edwin Poots failing to secure the party's nomination as the candidate for South Down.
Party officers on Friday night selected Diane Forsythe instead of the former DUP leader, who was attempting to switch to the constituency from Lagan Valley.
However, all candidates nominated by party officers and constituency associations are still to be ratified by the wider DUP executive committee.
Mr Poots looks set to challenge the decision at the executive, which consists of more than 120 people including MPs, MLAs and delegates from each constituency association.
It was previously suggested by his close ally DUP MLA Jim Wells that the executive would meet on Friday week, but party sources say no date has been set.
Mr Newton, 76, has been a DUP MLA for East Belfast since 2003 and previously served as Speaker of the Assembly and Junior Minister in the Stormont Executive.
His political career has spanned almost four decades, having been first elected to Belfast City Council in 1985.
The DUP is expected to field two candidates in East Belfast, with sitting party MLA Joanne Bunting contesting her seat alongside Mr Brooks.
There had been speculation that DUP Glengormley councillor Phillip Brett could be picked as a candidate in South Antrim if he was not announced for North Belfast.
However, the party is expected to re-select current South Antrim MLAs Pam Cameron and Trevor Clarke to contest the constituency.
Meanwhile in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, a DUP veteran who quit over the treatment of ousted leader Arlene Foster is set to run for the party, the Belfast Telegraph reported.
Paul Bell is expected to be a candidate alongside Deborah Erskine, who was co-opted last October after Mrs Foster stood down from the Assembly.
The DUP secured one seat in Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the 2017 election, but its second candidate Lord Maurice Morrow missed out after the number of MLAs for each constituency was reduced from six to five.
Mr Bell dramatically quit the DUP last May after walking out of a meeting to ratify Mr Poots as leader, claiming Mrs Foster had been "stabbed in the back".
The DUP member, whose daughter is party councillor Kim Ashton, returned to the party when Sir Jeffrey Donaldson became DUP leader after Mr Poots resigned from the top job.
The DUP has been approached for comment.
Councillor Alan Robinson, whose father George has been a DUP MLA since 2003, said: "I'm sure you'll understand that selection decisions will be announced in due course by the Democratic Unionist Party, therefore I doubt there will be any comments from any individuals in the meantime."
