diff --git a/.github/actions/system-test/action.yml b/.github/actions/system-test/action.yml
index 5563f44e7..626ddf9f3 100644
--- a/.github/actions/system-test/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/system-test/action.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ inputs:
     description: 'Whether to collect Go coverage data for this test'
     required: false
     default: 'true'
+  sideload_debug_binaries:
+    description: 'Whether to sideload the MicroCloud debug binaries built from this checkout instead of using the installed snap as-is'
+    required: false
+    default: 'false'
 runs:
   using: composite
   steps:
@@ -48,6 +52,7 @@ runs:
         go-version-file: 'go.mod'
 
     - name: Download system test dependencies
+      if: ${{ inputs.sideload_debug_binaries == 'true' }}
       uses: actions/download-artifact@9000827ccba6bdab643e8b6fd33ac0654aef8333 # v8.0.2
       with:
         name: system-test-deps
@@ -63,6 +68,7 @@ runs:
       if: env.GOCOVERDIR != ''
 
     - name: Sideload debug binaries
+      if: ${{ inputs.sideload_debug_binaries == 'true' }}
       shell: bash
       run: | # zizmor: ignore[github-env]
         set -eux
@@ -75,7 +81,7 @@ runs:
         echo "MICROCLOUDD_DEBUG_PATH=${MICROCLOUDD_DEBUG_PATH}" >> "${GITHUB_ENV}"
 
     - name: Strip debug binaries
-      if: env.GOCOVERDIR == ''
+      if: ${{ inputs.sideload_debug_binaries == 'true' && env.GOCOVERDIR == '' }}
       shell: bash
       run: |
         set -eux
@@ -190,4 +196,4 @@ runs:
       with:
         name: coverage-${{ matrix.suite }}-${{ env.TIMESTAMP }}
         path: ${{ env.GOCOVERDIR }}
-      if: env.GOCOVERDIR != '' && github.repository == 'canonical/microcloud'
+      if: env.GOCOVERDIR != '' && inputs.collect_coverage == 'true' && github.repository == 'canonical/microcloud'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 86c4d3dec..43c482bf1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -189,8 +189,21 @@ jobs:
           # Both LXD 5.21 and 6 are supported.
           - "5.21/edge"
           - "6/edge"
-        microcloud: ["latest/edge"]
+        microcloud:
+          - "latest/edge"
+          - "3/edge"
+          - "2/edge"
         exclude:
+          # Unsupported: MicroCloud 3 and latest/edge require LXD >= 6.
+          - microcloud: "latest/edge"
+            lxd: "5.21/edge"
+          - microcloud: "3/edge"
+            lxd: "5.21/edge"
+          # Exclude the released MicroCloud 2 and 3 combinations for regular development pipelines.
+          # They test published snaps, not the code in this checkout, so they are only useful on
+          # the weekly schedule (or on-demand via manual workflow dispatch).
+          - microcloud: ${{ github.event_name != 'schedule' && github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch' && '2/edge' }}
+          - microcloud: ${{ github.event_name != 'schedule' && github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch' && '3/edge' }}
           # Exclude LXD 5.21 for regular development pipelines to speed up the result cycle.
           # MicroCloud edge tests should always run with LXD edge. The LTS edge is tested in the weekly schedule.
           # Launch the LXD 5.21 tests both for schedules and manual workflow dispatch.
@@ -206,7 +219,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           setup_testbed: ${{ matrix.suite != 'terraform_demo' }}
           setup_terraform: ${{ matrix.suite == 'e2e' || matrix.suite == 'terraform_demo' }}
-          collect_coverage: ${{ matrix.suite != 'terraform_demo' }}
+          collect_coverage: ${{ matrix.suite != 'terraform_demo' && matrix.microcloud == 'latest/edge' }}
+          sideload_debug_binaries: ${{ matrix.microcloud == 'latest/edge' }}
 
   system-tests-upgrade:
     env: