ASDA was today taking legal action in an 11th-hour bid to stop a strike by thousands of workers at its distribution depots.
But after talks between the company and union leaders yesterday, an agreement might be reached minutes before the court action is due to start.
Asda, which is owned by US retail giant Wal-Mart, said last night it was hopeful of reaching an agreement and a statement could be made today.
The GMB union made no comment.
The firm had claimed there were irregularities in a recent ballot of workers and was expected to use this as the basis of legal action.
The dispute between the two sides is over pay and national bargaining.
Thousands of workers at 20 Asda depots were planning to stage a five-day walkout from tomorrow in the biggest supermarket dispute for years.
The talks were being held at the TUC headquarters in London.
