diff --git a/.zuul.yaml b/.zuul.yaml
index 234061d5..8cbb9e74 100644
--- a/.zuul.yaml
+++ b/.zuul.yaml
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@
         override-checkout: main
       - name: github.com/openstack-k8s-operators/openstack-must-gather
         override-checkout: main
-    pre-run:
-      - ci/pre-2node.yml
+    # pre-run:
+    #   - ci/pre-2node.yml
     vars:
       cifmw_deploy_edpm: false
       podified_validation: true
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@
       - name: github.com/infrawatch/sg-bridge
       - name: github.com/infrawatch/sg-core
       - name: github.com/infrawatch/prometheus-webhook-snmp
+    # I think this should be included here, and needs to have the crc credentials passed in.
+    # ... eventually
     pre-run:
       - ci/prepare.yml
     run:
@@ -202,10 +204,33 @@
         - stf-crc-ocp_416-nightly_bundles-index_deploy
         - stf-crc-ocp_418-nightly_bundles-index_deploy
 
+- job:
+    name: stf-crc-deployment
+    parent: stf-base-2node
+    description: |
+      A provider job that provisions CRC.
+    pre-run:
+      - ci/pre-2node.yml
+    run:
+      # It might be better to remove this later, since this does some stf-specific things.
+      - ci/prepare.yml
+      - ci/pause-the-job.yml
+    # Keep scenario for now, it sets some vars, which are set again once STF runs.
+    # This can get removed later
+    vars:
+      scenario: local_build
+
 - project:
     name: infrawatch/service-telemetry-operator
-    templates:
-      - stf-crc-jobs
+    # templates:
+    #   - stf-crc-jobs
+    github-check:
+      jobs:
+        - stf-crc-deployment:
+            override-checkout: main
+        - stf-crc-ocp_416-local_build:
+            dependencies: stf-crc-deployment
+        - noop
     periodic:
       jobs:
         - stf-crc-ocp_416-nightly_bundles
diff --git a/ci/common-tasks.yml b/ci/common-tasks.yml
index 40ff4ad1..c1556ecd 100644
--- a/ci/common-tasks.yml
+++ b/ci/common-tasks.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
   ansible.builtin.include_vars:
     file: "vars-zuul-common.yml"
 
+  # TODO: if using prepare for crc-provider, remove dependency on scenario
 - name: "Get scenario-specific vars"
   ansible.builtin.include_vars:
     file: "vars-{{ scenario }}.yml"
diff --git a/ci/pause-the-job.yml b/ci/pause-the-job.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ef3314ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ci/pause-the-job.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+---
+- hosts: controller
+  tasks:
+    #- name: Get credentials
+    #  import_role:
+    #    <openshift_login>
+    - zuul_return:
+        data:
+          zuul:
+            pause: true
+          # need to return the login informatin for the crc
+          # this is needed by stf to access the cluster
+          # TODO: Change the names of the vars once we know they are set correctly.
+          provider_openshift_login_api: "https://api.crc.testing:6443"
+          provider_openshift_login_user: "kubeadmin"
+          provider_openshift_login_password: "12345678
diff --git a/ci/pre-2node.yml b/ci/pre-2node.yml
index 1d44b5f4..6241b309 100644
--- a/ci/pre-2node.yml
+++ b/ci/pre-2node.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@
         chdir: '{{ ansible_env.HOME }}/{{ zuul.projects["github.com/openstack-k8s-operators/ci-framework"].src_dir }}'
         target: "{{ item }}"
       with_items:
+
         - setup_tests
         - setup_molecule
 
+# Need to know what vars have been set.
+# openshift_login role needs username/password
+#   cifmw_openshift_login_user and cifmw_openshift_login_password
+# it also needs cifmw_openshift_login_api <- I think this should be returned from a provisioning job, unless it's a fixed value.
+#
diff --git a/ci/prepare.yml b/ci/prepare.yml
index 20558798..2f74801b 100644
--- a/ci/prepare.yml
+++ b/ci/prepare.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 - name: "Prepare the environment for running stf"
   hosts: controller
   tasks:
+    # NOTE: maybe this prepare isn't required in the CRC provider, since it is for STF...
+    # I can probably split this up into two playbooks, prepare and prepare STF.
+    # Prepare will run these tasks, common-tasks needs to remove the scenario-specific vars file, and it should be explicitly be included in the STF play
     - name: "Setup play vars"
       ansible.builtin.include_tasks: "common-tasks.yml"
 
@@ -35,16 +38,43 @@
         - "kubernetes.core:5.0.0"
         - "community.general"
 
+    - name: "Show the openshift cluster information from the provider"
+      ansible.builtin.debug:
+        msg: |
+          The provider_openshift_login_api value is {{ provider_openshift_login_api | default('unset')}}.
+          The provider_openshift_login_user is {{ provider_openshift_login_user | default('unset') }}
+          The provider_openshift_login_password is {{ provider_openshift_login_password | default('unset')}}
+
+
+    - name: Use creds to log in
+      shell:
+        cmd: |
+          oc login -u {{ provider_openshift_login_user }} -p {{ provider_openshift_login_password }} -s {{ provider_openstack_login_api }}
+
+ 
+        # this won't succeed, since it needs kubeconfig to be set
+        # Try using openshift_login instead, since the vars are already set from the provider job.
     - name: "Log into the cluster"
       ansible.builtin.import_role:
         name: rhol_crc
         tasks_from: add_crc_creds.yml
 
-    - name: "Create the service-telemetry project"
-      kubernetes.core.k8s:
-        api_version: v1
-        kind: Namespace
-        name: "{{ namespace }}"
-        state: present
-      retries: 3
-      delay: 30
+    ## The vars are hardcoded for now, but will become vars later.
+    #- name: "Log into the cluster"
+    #  ansible.builtin.import_role:
+    #    name: openshift_login
+    #  vars:
+    #    cifmw_openshift_login_api: "https://api.crc.testing:6443"
+    #    cifmw_openshift_login_user: "kubeadmin"
+    #    cifmw_openshift_login_password: "12345678"
+
+        # After this point is specifically STF, which can be removed for now.
+        # This won't let STF pass, but it will be fine.
+#    - name: "Create the service-telemetry project"
+#      kubernetes.core.k8s:
+#        api_version: v1
+#        kind: Namespace
+#        name: "{{ namespace }}"
+#        state: present
+#      retries: 3
+#      delay: 30
diff --git a/ci/vars-zuul-common.yml b/ci/vars-zuul-common.yml
index de0f1761..7e59534e 100644
--- a/ci/vars-zuul-common.yml
+++ b/ci/vars-zuul-common.yml
@@ -9,4 +9,4 @@ sgo_dir: "{{ ansible_env.HOME }}/{{ zuul.projects['github.com/infrawatch/smart-g
 sg_core_dir: "{{ ansible_env.HOME }}/{{ zuul.projects['github.com/infrawatch/sg-core'].src_dir }}"
 sg_bridge_dir: "{{ ansible_env.HOME }}/{{ zuul.projects['github.com/infrawatch/sg-bridge'].src_dir }}"
 prometheus_webhook_snmp_dir: "{{ ansible_env.HOME }}/{{ zuul.projects['github.com/infrawatch/prometheus-webhook-snmp'].src_dir }}"
-__service_telemetry_storage_persistent_storage_class: "crc-csi-hostpath-provisioner"
\ No newline at end of file
+__service_telemetry_storage_persistent_storage_class: "crc-csi-hostpath-provisioner"