Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble last night formally approved his party's candidates for next month's Assembly election, with a field including two rebel MPs.
Party sources confirmed Mr Trimble had approved the signing of nomination papers for candidates across all 18 constituencies for the November 26th poll.
Among those representing the party will be Lagan Valley MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson and South Antrim MP Mr avid Burnside, who resigned the party whip at Westminster in a row over policy in June.
There had been speculation that, because the two MPs were in conflict with the UUP leadership, Mr Trimble would refuse to sign their nomination papers, which will be handed in next Monday and Tuesday.
However a source said: "We will be going into the election with everybody on board.
"The party will also produce a series of principles which everybody can sign up to.
"It covers much of the ground that the Ulster Unionist Executive dealt with at a meeting earlier this month, with a particular focus on the need for acts of completion by republicans."
The Executive was critical earlier this month of proposals from both governments on the implementation of the Belfast Agreement.
The party demanded "effective acts of completion" by republicans before Sinn Féin could participate in a future power sharing executive in Northern Ireland.
It said: "These acts must deal decisively with weapons decommissioning, the ending of all paramilitary activity and the effective winding-up of paramilitary organisations.