London, July 9 (ANI): Tom Cruise still believes that he can save his marriage to Katie Holmes or at the very least delay a public court battle, according to reports.

Cruise knows he has eight days before the pair, who have a six-year-old daughter, Suri, face each other in court in the first round of the legal process of separation.

The actor, who has a six-year-old daughter, Suri with Holmes has purposely let her lawyers do the running in public, while behind the scenes he is attempting reconciliation.

On July 17, Tom is due in court for an order to show cause hearing where Katie's attorney Jonathan Wolfe will spell out why they are splitting.

Cruise hopes to call a clear the air meet and avoid the public showdown with the 33-year-old.

He has told his lawyers to not make any public statements until he has spoken at length with Katie.

Tom either doesn't get it or doesn't believe that his marriage is ending, the Mirror quoted a Hollywood source as saying.

He feels there is still time for Katie and he to sit down and sort out a compromise. He knows that they are days away from a huge public court clash and stopping that or at least making it as amicable as possible are his goals

He feels he can still communicate with Katie and wants to sit down with her one on one. He hoped she would come to the West Coast, but now it is more likely he has to make the effort to head to New York, the source said.

The lawyers are working away, but Tom reckons he is the best one to communicate with his wife.

He reckons he can delay the hearing or come to an interim agreement.

At the very least if they get together and come to a short term agreement then this may be avoided.

Tom doesn't want to go to war with his wife unless he has to, the source added. (ANI)