On the number of terms in the middle of almost split sequences over tame algebras

Let $A$ be a finite dimensional tame algebra over an algebraically closed field $k$. It has been conjectured that any almost split sequence $0 \to X \to \oplus _{i=1} ^n Y_i \to Z \to 0$ with $Y_i$ indecomposable modules has $n \le 5$ and in case $n=5$, then exactly one of the $Y_i$ is a projective-injective module. In this work we show this conjecture in case all the $Y_i$ are directing modules, that is, there are no cycles of non-zero, non-iso maps $Y_i =M_1 \to M_2 \to \cdots \to M_s=Y_i$ between indecomposable $A$-modules. In case, $Y_1$ and $Y_2$ are isomorphic, we show that $n \le 3$ and give precise information on the structure of $A$.