System and method for enabling intra-operative selection of an image registration transformation for use in displaying a first image dataset and a second image dataset in correspondence with one another. Image dataset acquisition devices (12, 14) obtain the first and second image datasets. A similarity function indicative of a likelihood that the first and second image datasets are in correspondence with one another is computed by a processor (16) and then a ranking of each of a plurality of local maxima of the similarity function is determined. Registration transformations derived from a plurality of the local maxima are displayed on a display (18), and using a user-interface (22), a physician can select each registration transformation to ascertain visually whether it is the clinically-optimal registration transformation for subsequent use.