Gov. Doug Ducey intends to attend a Donald Trump event in Phoenix

• Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, will make his fourth visit to the Valley on Saturday
• Arizona's Doug Ducey and other Republican governors met with Trump earlier this week

Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey is expected to meet with presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump during the reality-TV star's swing through Arizona on Saturday.

It would be the first time Ducey and Trump appear together in Arizona, which could become a battleground state in the 2016 election cycle.

The meeting would follow a private gathering at Trump Tower earlier this week, which included Ducey and several other Republican governors.

The joint appearance symbolizes the somewhat uneasy alliance between the GOP establishment in Arizona and its party's presumptive nominee.

Ducey has tepidly issued his support to the winner of the GOP nomination, and has maintained his distance as Trump has made three campaign appearances in Arizona over the past 12 months.

"It's the governor's intent to attend one of the events with Donald Trump in Phoenix on Saturday," a statement from Ducey's spokesman, Daniel Scarpinato, said. But the statement cautioned Ducey's plans could change because of "urgent state business, such as the Cedar Creek Fire."

The governor's plans, the statement said, will be finalized "at the appropriate time." Ducey likely would attend a fundraiser for Trump and other Republican committees, which is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Paradise Valley. The fundraiser will be held just minutes from Ducey's home. A spokesman said the governor would likely speak at the fundraiser should he attend. Trump later will headline a rally near downtown Phoenix.

During the primary election, Ducey would not publicly pledge his support for any of the Republican candidates. He eventually said he would support the GOP nominee, and urged Republicans to unify to ensure Republicans win the White House. He will lead the state GOP delegation to the Republican National Convention next month in Ohio.

During the meeting with Trump in New York Tuesday, Ducey emphasized he wanted to keep a hold on Arizona's standing as a Republican stronghold — from the presidential race down to state offices. Ducey has largely brushed aside questions about Trump's stances on Muslim bans, characterizations of illegal immigrants, and other controversies. He recently came to the defense of New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, after Trump blasted her performance in the neighboring state.