This weekend the DUP is due to ratify its full line-up of candidates for the upcoming Stormont Assembly election.
It brings to an end what has been a torturous process for the party that only served to highlight its internal and electoral problems.
Yet another twist came at the eleventh hour as DUP deputy leader Paula Bradley announced she would not be contesting her seat in North Belfast.
Read more: DUP deputy leader Paula Bradley will not seek re-election for family reasons
The MLA had been re-selected as one of the party's candidates for the constituency, but she has pulled out to devote more time to caring for her elderly parents.
It has left the DUP with yet another last-minute candidate selection decision to make.
And while she has no immediate plans to step down as deputy leader, Ms Bradley said she would consult with DUP colleagues before the party's annual general meeting in June.
It means the DUP is facing potentially another deputy leadership contest on the horizon only a year after the last leadership battle caused so much lingering strife for the party.
The other intriguing late move was the decision to run only two candidates in DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's stronghold of Lagan Valley.
The party fielded three in 2017, with former MLA Brenda Hale only narrowly missing out. Opting for two demonstrates a nervousness as the election draws nearer.
It was only last year after becoming party leader that Sir Jeffrey was talking up the prospect of taking a third seat in Lagan Valley.
"In the last Assembly elections I think we were about 400 votes shy of winning three seats in Lagan Valley, and we will be setting ourselves a target to win seats in the Assembly elections because it is absolutely crucial for unionism that we win the election," he said.
But it was an admission of defeat when Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots went searching for a new constituency, at first seeking South Down before moving to South Belfast following the death of Christopher Stalford.
After months of head-scratching, the switch smoothed the path for Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey to join former First Minister Paul Givan on the ticket.
The co-option of councillor Paul Rankin earlier this week to replace Mr Poots prompted many to assume the party would still run three, albeit only to save face.
However, dropping the third candidate entirely makes the DUP look all the more unassured.
Just days ago Sir Jeffrey was welcoming Mr Rankin's co-option, saying he would be a "diligent and dedicated servant" for Lagan Valley's interests in the Assembly.
With Stormont due to be dissolved at the end of the month, the extremely short tenure will be used to argue that Mr Rankin is merely a placeholder for Sir Jeffrey.
Political opponents will contend it shows the DUP leader is delaying a Westminster by-election due to a reluctance to fully commit to the Stormont institutions.
The DUP is adamant it will not re-enter the Executive unless its concerns over Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol are addressed, which could spell many months of limbo before a new devolved government is formed.
This has fuelled speculation that Sir Jeffrey upon election to the Assembly will immediately co-opt someone else such as Mr Rankin to the seat so that he can continue as an MP.
The DUP had intended to have all its candidates chosen and ratified long before now. Finalising the process with less than seven weeks to go until polling day is far from ideal.
But after a tumultuous year and unfavourable opinion polls, the party will be hoping candidate selections are the least of their problems as they make their pitch for votes to the electorate.
Read more: DUP deputy leader Paula Bradley will not seek re-election for family reasons
Read more: Brendan Hughes: Edwin Poots switch to South Belfast another sign of DUP turmoil
