MPs will debate military action in Syria in principle only, after the government dropped plans for an early vote on British intervention.
A Commons motion to be debated later states that a final vote on action should be held only after UN inspectors report on an alleged chemical attack.
The government will also publish legal advice on taking military action later.
Labour will push its amendment to a vote and has not yet decided whether to support the government motion.
The party has demanded "compelling evidence" that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime was responsible for last Wednesday's chemical attack near Damascus.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said he had not wanted a decision on military action to be made on an "artificial timetable" and it was important to "learn the lessons of Iraq", and give the UN inspectors time to present their evidence.
The day after the government watered down plans for an early vote on military action in Syria, they still cannot be sure of Labour's support in tonight's Commons debate.
Labour is pushing ahead with its own amendment, which is slightly different to the government proposal - although the gap is significantly less than it appeared on Wednesday.
The biggest difference appears to be Labour's demand for "compelling evidence" that President Assad was responsible for the chemical weapons attack, before the UK gets involved in any military strike.
It means that Labour is not supporting the government at this stage because it wants MPs to back its proposal instead.
However we still don't know how the party will vote on the government's motion, which will be put to MPs after Labour's amendment.
Labour sources say it is "wait and see" on whether they will support the government if their amendment fails.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Miliband was able to claim a political victory and the government, even having backed down, could not be confident of getting sufficient MPs to vote for their motion.
Asked if ministers had backed down, Foreign Secretary William Hague said it was necessary to proceed "on a consensual basis" and said the prime minister recognised "the deep concerns in this country over what happened over Iraq".
On Wednesday, the UK presented the UN with a draft resolution authorising "necessary measures" to protect Syrian civilians.
The Syrian government has blamed opposition forces for the suspected chemical weapons attack in which hundreds of people are reported to have died.
US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday his country was certain the Assad regime was responsible - though he also said he had not made a decision on a military strike.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said the inspectors need four days to finish their investigation there.
This means a second parliamentary vote would probably not happen until at least early next week.
In other developments:
MPs will debate and vote on the government's motion, beginning on Thursday afternoon. The House of Lords will also debate the motion.
The government will publish legal advice from the attorney general and advice and findings from the joint intelligence committee later this morning.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government was seeking "to make the case for a simple, limited response" to the use of chemical weapons, arguing it would be a "fateful decision" if the West did not act.
"It is much more likely that Assad will use chemical weapons more frequently, in a more widespread way if nothing happens," he said.
He denied the government was seeking a mandate for unlimited intervention in Syria's conflict.
The government motion states "this House deplores the use of chemical weapons" by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, and says a response "may, if necessary, require military action that is legal, proportionate and focused on saving lives by preventing and deterring further use of Syria's chemical weapons".
The motion also accuses the UN of a "failure" to deal with the Syrian crisis, but says the government believes "a United Nations process must be followed as far as possible to ensure the maximum legitimacy for any such action".
It says "the United Nations Security Council must have the opportunity immediately to consider" the inspectors' findings.
"Before any direct British involvement in such action a further vote of the House of Commons will take place," it adds.
'Government climb down'Labour's amendment states it would "only support military action involving UK forces" if various conditions were met - including allowing weapons inspectors time to report to the UN Security Council.
When asked if the government had backed down in the face of Labour's opposition, Mr Hague said the motion "endorses the government's consistent approach" when it comes to taking action against the use of chemical weapons.
"But it also reflects the desire to proceed on a consensual basis, to ensure there is widespread support across the House of Commons and of course respect for the United Nations processes as well," he said.
The foreign secretary acknowledged that the US could go ahead with strikes against targets in Syria without the UK being involved.
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William Hague: ''It is important to proceed on a consensual basis''
Mr Cameron will open the Commons debate and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will close it.
A meeting of the UN Security Council in New York on Wednesday discussed the UK's draft resolution and talks are expected to continue for several days.
The resolution condemns the use of chemical weapons and demands that the regime of President Assad cease to use such weapons.
The security council, which meets whenever peace is threatened, is made up of 15 members, including permanent members China, Russia, France, the US and the UK.
Previous efforts to secure action against President Assad have been vetoed by Russia and China.
Syria has accused the West of "inventing" excuses to launch a strike.
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