ASSEMBLY members will return to the Stormont chamber for the first time in nearly three years after more than 30 MLAs signed a recall petition.
The meeting on Monday was proposed as the north's abortion laws are set to be liberalised through Westminster legislation unless devolution is restored by October 21.
But MLAs may be unable to even debate the issue because they first need to elect a speaker, which requires cross-community support.
Under Stormont rules, the signatures of 30 MLAs are needed for the speaker to recall the assembly.
The DUP, four Ulster Unionists – party leader Robin Swann and MLAs Roy Beggs, Robbie Butler and Alan Chambers – and TUV leader Jim Allister signed the petition.
It came after the former Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan urged Secretary of State Julian Smith to recall the assembly before abortion law changes took effect.
DUP leader Arlene Foster backed the call, and anti-abortion campaign group Both Lives Matter sought support for the petition.
Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill dismissed the DUP move as a "pointless political stunt", and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said it was "cynical".
Sinn Féin will not attend the assembly meeting, while the SDLP is still considering its options.
The NI Assembly said that once recalled, the rules require that the first business is the election of a speaker and deputy speakers, which requires cross-community backing.
"If this item is not completed successfully, the assembly cannot proceed to conduct any further business," a spokeswoman added.
If speakers are chosen, the next move would be to elect a new First Minister and Deputy First Minister, which, according to party strengths, would come from the DUP and Sinn Féin respectively.
Stormont speaker Robin Newton will consult with party whips today to determine a time for the assembly sitting.
Dawn McAvoy from Both Lives Matter said: "Northern Ireland has been without government for over 1,000 days. Abortion is not, and never has been the stumbling block.
"We hope that it might now be the issue that helps bring the assembly back."
Alliance is considered likely to attend Monday's meeting, but party MLA Trevor Lunn branded the recall plan "showboating".
"It appears those wanting to go back on Monday are only doing so to try and deny LGBTQ people and women the rights guaranteed to them in the rest of the UK," he said.
Independent unionist Claire Sugden told the BBC that, despite speculation, she did not sign the petition as it specifically related to abortion rather than the wider issue of devolution not being in place for more than 1,000 days.
Northern Ireland has not had a power-sharing government since the DUP and Sinn Féin-led executive fell apart in 2017 in the wake of the RHI scandal.
Both parties insist they want devolution restored, but the rift has widened to include disagreement over issues including an Irish language act.
