The Taoiseach may announce wide-ranging changes to the ministers of State ranks tomorrow, just hours after the long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle.
Last night, senior Government sources speculated that Mr Ahern was ready to sack a large number of his junior ministers on grounds of poor performance.
Junior appointments are usually announced days after the Cabinet jobs have been given out, but a combined announcement could help to create an image of change.
The Taoiseach yesterday indicated he was prepared to sack members of his new Cabinet before the next election if their performance did not meet his standards.
The Cabinet changes will be announced at 3.30 p.m. tomorrow, following which the entire Cabinet will travel to Áras an Úachtaráin for a presentation of new seals of office.
The PD leader and Tánaiste, Ms Mary Harney, seems increasingly certain to go to the Department of Health, despite the obvious political risks involved.
The majority of the Progressive Democrats Parliamentary Party and several key advisers are in favour of the move, rather than see Ms Harney go to the Department of Education.
One of the key positions in the reshuffle is that of the Government Chief Whip, since it must be held by someone living within commuting distance of Dublin.
Ministers of State Mr Dick Roche and Mr Brian Lenihan are regarded as "possibles" for the role, which requires some diplomatic skills, rather than full Cabinet jobs.
A number of other Ministers of State, such as Ms Síle de Valera and Donegal's Mr James McDaid are regarded by colleagues as being highly vulnerable.
Ms de Valera's constituency colleague, Mr Tony Killeen, is hotly tipped for promotion, while Cavan/Monaghan TD Mr Brendan Smith is also on the favourites list.
Speaking in Dublin, Mr Ahern warned that there would be no "comfort zone" in the new Cabinet and that ministers would have to work hard to hang on to their positions into the election. He added that he intended a "genuine reshuffle", and not just minor alterations to the front bench. "What I'm looking for is those with a strong performance.
"I'm not in a position where I'm going to appoint people on Wednesday and if they are not putting it in that they are going to stay there for the next election.
"I'm not going to do that," he said. "This is going to be a Government that works. It's not going to be a comfort zone for people."
The statements by the Taoiseach will be taken with a pinch of salt by most politicians, given that he issued similar diktats several times before without acting on them.
Rejecting charges that he is preparing only minor Cabinet changes, Mr Ahern said: "There are a number of Ministers who have been in positions for a number of years and I think that's going to change.
"I also think that new people will give a vibrancy, an activity base that we need," he said, following the launch of a promotional video by No Name Club, which organises alcohol-free events for teenagers.
Commending the performance of the Government to date, Mr Ahern said: "This Government has done extraordinarily well but there are always new agendas, new challenges and new tasks.
"I think it requires a very determined team who have to keep up those energy levels to serve the country in the coming Dáil," said the Taoiseach, indicating that final decisions may not yet have been taken in all cases.