Britney SpearsBritney SpearsBritney Spears is in need of a helping hand with her career.

And Justin Timberlake has come along with his outstretched.

But instead of clinging on, Brit has apparently pushed it aside.

The chat is that she's skipped out on an arranged recording session with her ex-boyf.

Apparently she ditched it last-minute and now refuses to record the song penned by JT.

The duet was to be produced by Timbaland and could have been just what the doctor ordered for her comeback.

A music industry source told Page Six that Just wrote the duet especially for her.

But calm down those who think there may be a whiff of them getting back to together (like we so hope)... they wouldn't have been pairing up in the studio, his voice would have actually been mixed with hers later.

Justin in LondonJustin TimberlakeBut still, the gesture was there.

The source added: "Timbaland set aside a week out of his crazy schedule to do this - and then, just before she was supposed to fly out, Britney abruptly cancelled the session and refused to do the song.

"It's crazy.

"She's looking for a comeback, and this would have not only been a huge hit, but something she could have opened the MTV Video Awards with and really blown everyone away."

Oh, the shame of it all.