John Swinney has warned there are just days left to strike a deal on how to transfer major tax and spend powers to Holyrood.
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister was speaking after the 10th round of talks between the UK and Scottish governments.
Both sides suggested that some agreement had been reached on a number of issues during more than two hours of negotiations in Whitehall.
But the two sides have still to agree an overall deal on the finances that will underpin planned new powers for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Swinney said:“It is really a matter of days... there is not much time.”
But he said he “hoped” that Prime Minister David Cameron did not have intervene.
“I hope we can make progress that does not need the Prime Minister involved... as it seems like he has a lot on his plate,” Mr Swinney said.
He also rejected claims that the SNP wanted to string the talks out until after the Holyrood elections.
Scottish ministers were “energetic and enthusiastic” about ensuring the powers were transferred to the Scottish Parliament, he said, adding: "Ministers in Scotland want to exercise these powers."
But he sounded a note of caution what while some headway had been made there were still “big issues that have got to be resolved”.
And he suggested that officials and ministers had to make progress before next Tuesday, when he is due to give an update on the negotiations to MSPs.
He added: “We don’t have a lot of time on our side".
The Treasury also said that progress had been made in a number of areas and that it remained confident a deal could be finalised.
Sources said that ministers believed that they had listened to the Scottish Government's concerns and moved a long way towards meeting them.
Greg Hands, the chief secretary to the Treasury, who came under fire earlier this week for going on holiday during the negotiations, said that his government was “willing to go the extra mile” in order to secure an agreement.
Economists have warned that if ministers get the so-called 'fiscal framework' deal wrong Scotland could lose out to the tune of billion of pounds over a decade.
SNP ministers had originally wanted an agreement in place by February 12.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon later told the Prime Minister a deal on the "key areas of principle" needed to be in place by the end of this week.
Scottish government sources said that there was little over two weeks left before it would be too late for MSPs to scrutinise any deal before the Holyrood elections got underway.
Scottish Labour Leader Kezia Dugdale has written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the UK Treasury urging both to stay at the negotiating table, even if that deadline is missed.
She wrote: "I would like to see the negotiations completed before the deadline set by the Devolution (Further Powers) Committee.
"However, if they are not completed by this date, both the UK and Scottish Governments should continue to negotiate until the pre-election period commences on 24th March.
"In doing so, you will have the full support of the Scottish Labour Party. While this means that the final deal may not receive Parliamentary approval before the election, it does mean that we will be in the best possible position to approve a deal in May following the elections. I believe there is no reason why there should be a month long pause in negotiations between the UK and Scottish Governments."
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