Stormont parties have until midnight on Thursday to restore devolved government in Northern Ireland as the latest legal deadline looms for calling a snap election.
But there is little sign of a fresh poll being announced by the Secretary of State having previously extended the period for forming an Executive.
Ongoing talks between the UK and European Union on Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol and the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in April could persuade Chris Heaton-Harris to again push back the deadline.