preg_match_all() extra parameter

Would it be possible to have an extra parameter for preg_match_all() that would allow for a maximum number of matches to be set? Ie, with $foo = "<td>a</td><td>b</td><td>c</td><td>d</td><td>e</td>", do something like preg_match_all("/<td>(.*?)<\/td>/", $foo, $r, PREG_PATTERN_ORDER, 4); , which would return only matches a thru d, but not e. I think this might be useful (especially to cut execution time). Regards, Manuzhai