Repository: kubernetes-sigs/kueue

Issue:
v1beta2: use regex exceptions for api-linter rather than nolint
<!-- Please only use this template for submitting clean up requests -->

**What would you like to be cleaned**:

Use regex exceptions for api-linter rather than using //nolint

Part of #7113 

**Why is this needed**:

Because //nolint disables also other linter checks for the field, potentially masking some issues.

This is follow up explained here: https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/kueue/issues/7119#issuecomment-3493274136

Discussion:
@mimowo: /assign @kannon92 
tenatively, cc @JoelSpeed 

Solution patch:
diff --git a/.golangci-kal.yml b/.golangci-kal.yml
index 344621545..5f356aaff 100644
--- a/.golangci-kal.yml
+++ b/.golangci-kal.yml
@@ -68,6 +68,43 @@ linters:
       linters:
         - kubeapilinter
 
+    ## Exclusions for intentional API design decisions
+    # PodSets field intentionally excludes omitempty
+    - text: "optionalfields: field PodSets should have the omitempty tag."
+      path: "apis/kueue/v1beta2"
+
+    # Spec and Status fields - Kubernetes convention (not pointers, specific omitempty rules)
+    - text: "optionalfields: field (Spec|Status) should (be a pointer|have the omitempty tag)."
+      path: "apis/kueue/v1beta2"
+
+    # Various optional fields intentionally not pointers for API stability
+    - text: "optionalfields: field (QueueName|PriorityClassName|PriorityClassSource|ClusterQueue|ParentName|CohortName|QueueingStrategy|LocationType|Description|Policy|WhenCanBorrow|WhenCanPreempt|ReclaimWithinCohort|WithinClusterQueue|Borrowed|Total|PendingWorkloads|ReservingWorkloads|AdmittedWorkloads) should (be a pointer|have the omitempty tag)."
+      path: "apis/kueue/v1beta2"
+
+    # Name and Count fields - intentional design decisions
+    - text: "(optionalfields|requiredfields): field (Name|Count) should (be a pointer|have the omitempty tag)."
+      path: "apis/kueue/v1beta2"
+
+    # PodSetAssignments intentionally excludes omitempty
+    - text: "optionalfields: field PodSetAssignments should have the omitempty tag."
+      path: "apis/kueue/v1beta2"
+
+    # Required fields with valid zero values - validation is intentionally incomplete
+    - text: "requiredfields: field .* has a valid zero value.*should be a pointer"
+      path: "apis/kueue/v1beta2"
+
+    # Required fields that intentionally exclude omitempty
+    - text: "requiredfields: field (ControllerName|LastUpdate|Reason|UnderlyingCause|Message|WeightedShare|Value|ConsumedResources) should have the omitempty tag."
+      path: "apis/kueue/v1beta2"
+
+    # ResourceList fields (map types required for Kubernetes compatibility)
+    - text: "(nomaps|optionalfields): (field )?(ResourceUsage|Resources|ConsumedResources) should (not use a map type|be a pointer)"
+      path: "apis/kueue/v1beta2"
+
+    # Bool fields for API compatibility (Active mirrors Job.Suspend, Unconstrained is existing API)
+    - text: "(nobools|optionalorrequired): field (Active|Unconstrained) .*(should not use a bool|must be marked as optional or required)"
+      path: "apis/kueue/v1beta2"
+
 issues:
   max-same-issues: 0
   max-issues-per-linter: 0
diff --git a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/admissioncheck_types.go b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/admissioncheck_types.go
index 9ddb90f06..afd221185 100644
--- a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/admissioncheck_types.go
+++ b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/admissioncheck_types.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ type AdmissionCheckSpec struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="self == oldSelf", message="field is immutable"
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MaxLength=253
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MinLength=1
-	ControllerName string `json:"controllerName"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // ignore omitempty
+	ControllerName string `json:"controllerName"`
 
 	// parameters identifies a configuration with additional parameters for the
 	// check.
@@ -116,11 +116,11 @@ type AdmissionCheck struct {
 
 	// spec is the specification of the AdmissionCheck.
 	// +optional
-	Spec AdmissionCheckSpec `json:"spec"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // spec should not be a pointer
+	Spec AdmissionCheckSpec `json:"spec"`
 
 	// status is the status of the AdmissionCheck.
 	// +optional
-	Status AdmissionCheckStatus `json:"status,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // status should not be a pointer
+	Status AdmissionCheckStatus `json:"status,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // +kubebuilder:object:root=true
diff --git a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/clusterqueue_types.go b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/clusterqueue_types.go
index 195497331..60605f433 100644
--- a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/clusterqueue_types.go
+++ b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/clusterqueue_types.go
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ type ClusterQueueSpec struct {
 	// A cohort is a name that links CQs together, but it doesn't reference any
 	// object.
 	// +optional
-	CohortName CohortReference `json:"cohortName,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	CohortName CohortReference `json:"cohortName,omitempty"`
 
 	// queueingStrategy indicates the queueing strategy of the workloads
 	// across the queues in this ClusterQueue.
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ type ClusterQueueSpec struct {
 	// +optional
 	// +kubebuilder:default=BestEffortFIFO
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Enum=StrictFIFO;BestEffortFIFO
-	QueueingStrategy QueueingStrategy `json:"queueingStrategy,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	QueueingStrategy QueueingStrategy `json:"queueingStrategy,omitempty"`
 
 	// namespaceSelector defines which namespaces are allowed to submit workloads to
 	// this clusterQueue. Beyond this basic support for policy, a policy agent like
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ type FlavorQuotas struct {
 	// ResourceFlavor. If a matching ResourceFlavor does not exist, the
 	// ClusterQueue will have an Active condition set to False.
 	// +required
-	Name ResourceFlavorReference `json:"name"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Name ResourceFlavorReference `json:"name"`
 
 	// resources is the list of quotas for this flavor per resource.
 	// There could be up to 64 resources.
@@ -311,17 +311,17 @@ type ClusterQueueStatus struct {
 	// pendingWorkloads is the number of workloads currently waiting to be
 	// admitted to this clusterQueue.
 	// +optional
-	PendingWorkloads int32 `json:"pendingWorkloads"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	PendingWorkloads int32 `json:"pendingWorkloads"`
 
 	// reservingWorkloads is the number of workloads currently reserving quota in this
 	// clusterQueue.
 	// +optional
-	ReservingWorkloads int32 `json:"reservingWorkloads"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	ReservingWorkloads int32 `json:"reservingWorkloads"`
 
 	// admittedWorkloads is the number of workloads currently admitted to this
 	// clusterQueue and haven't finished yet.
 	// +optional
-	AdmittedWorkloads int32 `json:"admittedWorkloads"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	AdmittedWorkloads int32 `json:"admittedWorkloads"`
 
 	// fairSharing contains the current state for this ClusterQueue
 	// when participating in Fair Sharing.
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ type ClusterQueueStatus struct {
 type FlavorUsage struct {
 	// name of the flavor.
 	// +required
-	Name ResourceFlavorReference `json:"name,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Name ResourceFlavorReference `json:"name,omitempty"`
 
 	// resources lists the quota usage for the resources in this flavor.
 	// +listType=map
@@ -351,12 +351,12 @@ type ResourceUsage struct {
 	// total is the total quantity of used quota, including the amount borrowed
 	// from the cohort.
 	// +optional
-	Total resource.Quantity `json:"total,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Total resource.Quantity `json:"total,omitempty"`
 
 	// borrowed is quantity of quota that is borrowed from the cohort. In other
 	// words, it's the used quota that is over the nominalQuota.
 	// +optional
-	Borrowed resource.Quantity `json:"borrowed,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Borrowed resource.Quantity `json:"borrowed,omitempty"`
 }
 
 const (
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ type FlavorFungibility struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Enum={MayStopSearch,TryNextFlavor}
 	// +kubebuilder:default="MayStopSearch"
 	// +optional
-	WhenCanBorrow FlavorFungibilityPolicy `json:"whenCanBorrow,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	WhenCanBorrow FlavorFungibilityPolicy `json:"whenCanBorrow,omitempty"`
 	// whenCanPreempt determines whether a workload should try the next flavor
 	// before borrowing in current flavor. The possible values are:
 	//
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ type FlavorFungibility struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Enum={MayStopSearch,TryNextFlavor}
 	// +kubebuilder:default="TryNextFlavor"
 	// +optional
-	WhenCanPreempt FlavorFungibilityPolicy `json:"whenCanPreempt,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	WhenCanPreempt FlavorFungibilityPolicy `json:"whenCanPreempt,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // ClusterQueuePreemption contains policies to preempt Workloads from this
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ type ClusterQueuePreemption struct {
 	// +optional
 	// +kubebuilder:default=Never
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Enum=Never;LowerPriority;Any
-	ReclaimWithinCohort PreemptionPolicy `json:"reclaimWithinCohort,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	ReclaimWithinCohort PreemptionPolicy `json:"reclaimWithinCohort,omitempty"`
 
 	// borrowWithinCohort determines whether a pending Workload can preempt
 	// Workloads from other ClusterQueues in the cohort if the workload requires borrowing.
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ type ClusterQueuePreemption struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:default=Never
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Enum=Never;LowerPriority;LowerOrNewerEqualPriority
 	// +optional
-	WithinClusterQueue PreemptionPolicy `json:"withinClusterQueue,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	WithinClusterQueue PreemptionPolicy `json:"withinClusterQueue,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type BorrowWithinCohortPolicy string
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ type BorrowWithinCohort struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:default=Never
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Enum=Never;LowerPriority
 	// +optional
-	Policy BorrowWithinCohortPolicy `json:"policy,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Policy BorrowWithinCohortPolicy `json:"policy,omitempty"`
 	// maxPriorityThreshold allows to restrict the set of workloads which
 	// might be preempted by a borrowing workload, to only workloads with
 	// priority less than or equal to the specified threshold priority.
@@ -528,10 +528,10 @@ type ClusterQueue struct {
 
 	// spec is the specification of the ClusterQueue.
 	// +optional
-	Spec ClusterQueueSpec `json:"spec,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // spec should not be a pointer
+	Spec ClusterQueueSpec `json:"spec,omitempty"`
 	// status is the status of the ClusterQueue.
 	// +optional
-	Status ClusterQueueStatus `json:"status,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // status should not be a pointer
+	Status ClusterQueueStatus `json:"status,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // +kubebuilder:object:root=true
diff --git a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/cohort_types.go b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/cohort_types.go
index e53c824f3..8542b1097 100644
--- a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/cohort_types.go
+++ b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/cohort_types.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ type CohortSpec struct {
 	// removed.  We prevent further admission while the cycle
 	// exists.
 	// +optional
-	ParentName CohortReference `json:"parentName,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	ParentName CohortReference `json:"parentName,omitempty"`
 
 	// resourceGroups describes groupings of Resources and
 	// Flavors.  Each ResourceGroup defines a list of Resources
@@ -98,10 +98,10 @@ type Cohort struct {
 
 	// spec is the specification of the Cohort.
 	// +optional
-	Spec CohortSpec `json:"spec"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // spec should not be a pointer
+	Spec CohortSpec `json:"spec"`
 	// status is the status of the Cohort.
 	// +optional
-	Status CohortStatus `json:"status,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // status should not be a pointer
+	Status CohortStatus `json:"status,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // +kubebuilder:object:root=true
diff --git a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/fairsharing_types.go b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/fairsharing_types.go
index fbcb0bf97..2bab0cc89 100644
--- a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/fairsharing_types.go
+++ b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/fairsharing_types.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ type FairSharingStatus struct {
 	// weight of zero and is borrowing, this will return
 	// 9223372036854775807, the maximum possible share value.
 	// +required
-	WeightedShare int64 `json:"weightedShare"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // do not add omitempty
+	WeightedShare int64 `json:"weightedShare"`
 
 	// admissionFairSharingStatus represents information relevant to the Admission Fair Sharing
 	// +optional
@@ -67,11 +67,11 @@ type AdmissionFairSharingStatus struct {
 	// with decaying function applied.
 	// The value is populated if usage consumption functionality is enabled in Kueue config.
 	// +required
-	ConsumedResources corev1.ResourceList `json:"consumedResources"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // map type is required for standard Kubernetes ResourceList
+	ConsumedResources corev1.ResourceList `json:"consumedResources"`
 
 	// lastUpdate is the time when share and consumed resources were updated.
 	// +required
-	LastUpdate metav1.Time `json:"lastUpdate"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // exclude omitempty
+	LastUpdate metav1.Time `json:"lastUpdate"`
 }
 
 type AdmissionScope struct {
diff --git a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/localqueue_types.go b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/localqueue_types.go
index b6386d08b..e047c7367 100644
--- a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/localqueue_types.go
+++ b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/localqueue_types.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ type LocalQueueSpec struct {
 	// clusterQueue is a reference to a clusterQueue that backs this localQueue.
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="self == oldSelf", message="field is immutable"
 	// +optional
-	ClusterQueue ClusterQueueReference `json:"clusterQueue,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	ClusterQueue ClusterQueueReference `json:"clusterQueue,omitempty"`
 
 	// stopPolicy - if set to a value different from None, the LocalQueue is considered Inactive,
 	// no new reservation being made.
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ type TopologyInfo struct {
 	// name is the name of the topology.
 	//
 	// +required
-	Name TopologyReference `json:"name"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Name TopologyReference `json:"name"`
 
 	// levels define the levels of topology.
 	//
@@ -88,17 +88,17 @@ type LocalQueueStatus struct {
 
 	// pendingWorkloads is the number of Workloads in the LocalQueue not yet admitted to a ClusterQueue
 	// +optional
-	PendingWorkloads int32 `json:"pendingWorkloads"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	PendingWorkloads int32 `json:"pendingWorkloads"`
 
 	// reservingWorkloads is the number of workloads in this LocalQueue
 	// reserving quota in a ClusterQueue and that haven't finished yet.
 	// +optional
-	ReservingWorkloads int32 `json:"reservingWorkloads"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	ReservingWorkloads int32 `json:"reservingWorkloads"`
 
 	// admittedWorkloads is the number of workloads in this LocalQueue
 	// admitted to a ClusterQueue and that haven't finished yet.
 	// +optional
-	AdmittedWorkloads int32 `json:"admittedWorkloads"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	AdmittedWorkloads int32 `json:"admittedWorkloads"`
 
 	// flavorsReservation are the reserved quotas, by flavor currently in use by the
 	// workloads assigned to this LocalQueue.
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ const (
 type LocalQueueFlavorUsage struct {
 	// name of the flavor.
 	// +required
-	Name ResourceFlavorReference `json:"name"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Name ResourceFlavorReference `json:"name"`
 
 	// resources lists the quota usage for the resources in this flavor.
 	// +listType=map
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ type LocalQueueResourceUsage struct {
 
 	// total is the total quantity of used quota.
 	// +optional
-	Total resource.Quantity `json:"total,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Total resource.Quantity `json:"total,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // +genclient
@@ -167,10 +167,10 @@ type LocalQueue struct {
 
 	// spec is the specification of the LocalQueue.
 	// +optional
-	Spec LocalQueueSpec `json:"spec"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Spec LocalQueueSpec `json:"spec"`
 	// status is the status of the LocalQueue.
 	// +optional
-	Status LocalQueueStatus `json:"status,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Status LocalQueueStatus `json:"status,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // +kubebuilder:object:root=true
diff --git a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/multikueue_types.go b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/multikueue_types.go
index 629558cb3..e27f2c119 100644
--- a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/multikueue_types.go
+++ b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/multikueue_types.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ type KubeConfig struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:default=Secret
 	// +optional
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Enum=Secret;Path
-	LocationType LocationType `json:"locationType"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	LocationType LocationType `json:"locationType"`
 }
 
 type MultiKueueClusterSpec struct {
@@ -98,11 +98,11 @@ type MultiKueueCluster struct {
 
 	// spec is the specification of the MultiKueueCluster.
 	// +optional
-	Spec MultiKueueClusterSpec `json:"spec,omitempty,omitzero"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // spec should not be a pointer
+	Spec MultiKueueClusterSpec `json:"spec,omitempty,omitzero"`
 
 	// status is the status of the MultiKueueCluster.
 	// +optional
-	Status MultiKueueClusterStatus `json:"status,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // status should not be a pointer
+	Status MultiKueueClusterStatus `json:"status,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // +kubebuilder:object:root=true
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ type MultiKueueConfig struct {
 
 	// spec is the specification of the MultiKueueConfig.
 	// +optional
-	Spec MultiKueueConfigSpec `json:"spec,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // spec should not be a pointer
+	Spec MultiKueueConfigSpec `json:"spec,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // +kubebuilder:object:root=true
diff --git a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/provisioningrequestconfig_types.go b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/provisioningrequestconfig_types.go
index 2e3f75c1d..61c161913 100644
--- a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/provisioningrequestconfig_types.go
+++ b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/provisioningrequestconfig_types.go
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ type ProvisioningRequestConfig struct {
 
 	// spec is the specification of the ProvisioningRequestConfig.
 	// +optional
-	Spec ProvisioningRequestConfigSpec `json:"spec"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Spec ProvisioningRequestConfigSpec `json:"spec"`
 }
 
 // +kubebuilder:object:root=true
diff --git a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/resourceflavor_types.go b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/resourceflavor_types.go
index e1dc74196..c5ea8eda7 100644
--- a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/resourceflavor_types.go
+++ b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/resourceflavor_types.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ type ResourceFlavor struct {
 
 	// spec is the specification of the ResourceFlavor.
 	// +optional
-	Spec ResourceFlavorSpec `json:"spec,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // spec should not be a pointer
+	Spec ResourceFlavorSpec `json:"spec,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // TopologyReference is the name of the Topology.
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ type ResourceFlavorSpec struct {
 	// nodes matching to the Resource Flavor node labels.
 	//
 	// +optional
-	TopologyName *TopologyReference `json:"topologyName,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should be a pointer
+	TopologyName *TopologyReference `json:"topologyName,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // +kubebuilder:object:root=true
diff --git a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/topology_types.go b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/topology_types.go
index e29b7350a..ab1a0df56 100644
--- a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/topology_types.go
+++ b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/topology_types.go
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ type Topology struct {
 
 	// spec is the specification of the Topology.
 	// +optional
-	Spec TopologySpec `json:"spec"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // spec should not be a pointer
+	Spec TopologySpec `json:"spec"`
 }
 
 // +kubebuilder:object:root=true
diff --git a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/workload_types.go b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/workload_types.go
index c2e9077cb..b956e9caf 100644
--- a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/workload_types.go
+++ b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/workload_types.go
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ type WorkloadSpec struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MaxItems=8
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MinItems=1
 	// +optional
-	PodSets []PodSet `json:"podSets"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // do not add omitempty tag
+	PodSets []PodSet `json:"podSets"`
 
 	// queueName is the name of the LocalQueue the Workload is associated with.
 	// queueName cannot be changed while .status.admission is not null.
 	// +optional
-	QueueName LocalQueueName `json:"queueName,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	QueueName LocalQueueName `json:"queueName,omitempty"`
 
 	// priorityClassName is the name of the PriorityClass the Workload is associated with.
 	// If specified, indicates the workload's priority.
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ type WorkloadSpec struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MinLength=1
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Pattern="^[a-z0-9]([-a-z0-9]*[a-z0-9])?(\\.[a-z0-9]([-a-z0-9]*[a-z0-9])?)*$"
 	// +optional
-	PriorityClassName string `json:"priorityClassName,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	PriorityClassName string `json:"priorityClassName,omitempty"`
 
 	// priority determines the order of access to the resources managed by the
 	// ClusterQueue where the workload is queued.
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ type WorkloadSpec struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:default=""
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Enum=kueue.x-k8s.io/workloadpriorityclass;scheduling.k8s.io/priorityclass;""
 	// +optional
-	PriorityClassSource string `json:"priorityClassSource,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	PriorityClassSource string `json:"priorityClassSource,omitempty"`
 
 	// active determines if a workload can be admitted into a queue.
 	// Changing active from true to false will evict any running workloads.
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ type WorkloadSpec struct {
 	//
 	// Defaults to true
 	// +kubebuilder:default=true
-	Active *bool `json:"active,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // bool for the ease of use, inspired by k8s Job's Suspend field.
+	Active *bool `json:"active,omitempty"`
 
 	// maximumExecutionTimeSeconds if provided, determines the maximum time, in seconds,
 	// the workload can be admitted before it's automatically deactivated.
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ type PodSetTopologyRequest struct {
 	//
 	// +optional
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Type=boolean
-	Unconstrained *bool `json:"unconstrained,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // disabling to avoid changing existing API
+	Unconstrained *bool `json:"unconstrained,omitempty"`
 
 	// podIndexLabel indicates the name of the label indexing the pods.
 	// For example, in the context of
@@ -169,14 +169,14 @@ type PodSetTopologyRequest struct {
 type Admission struct {
 	// clusterQueue is the name of the ClusterQueue that admitted this workload.
 	// +optional
-	ClusterQueue ClusterQueueReference `json:"clusterQueue"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	ClusterQueue ClusterQueueReference `json:"clusterQueue"`
 
 	// podSetAssignments hold the admission results for each of the .spec.podSets entries.
 	// +listType=map
 	// +listMapKey=name
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MaxItems=8
 	// +optional
-	PodSetAssignments []PodSetAssignment `json:"podSetAssignments"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // do not add omitempty
+	PodSetAssignments []PodSetAssignment `json:"podSetAssignments"`
 }
 
 // PodSetReference is the name of a PodSet.
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ type PodSetAssignment struct {
 	// name is the name of the podSet. It should match one of the names in .spec.podSets.
 	// +kubebuilder:default=main
 	// +optional
-	Name PodSetReference `json:"name"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Name PodSetReference `json:"name"`
 
 	// flavors are the flavors assigned to the workload for each resource.
 	// +optional
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ type PodSetAssignment struct {
 	// the LimitRange defaults and RuntimeClass overheads at the moment of admission.
 	// This field will not change in case of quota reclaim.
 	// +optional
-	ResourceUsage corev1.ResourceList `json:"resourceUsage,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // map type is required for standard Kubernetes ResourceList
+	ResourceUsage corev1.ResourceList `json:"resourceUsage,omitempty"`
 
 	// count is the number of pods taken into account at admission time.
 	// This field will not change in case of quota reclaim.
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ type PodSet struct {
 	// name is the PodSet name.
 	// +kubebuilder:default=main
 	// +optional
-	Name PodSetReference `json:"name,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Name PodSetReference `json:"name,omitempty"`
 
 	// template is the Pod template.
 	//
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ type PodSet struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:default=1
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Minimum=0
 	// +optional
-	Count int32 `json:"count"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Count int32 `json:"count"`
 
 	// minCount is the minimum number of pods for the spec acceptable
 	// if the workload supports partial admission.
@@ -509,19 +509,19 @@ type WorkloadSchedulingStatsEviction struct {
 	//
 	// +required
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MaxLength=316
-	Reason string `json:"reason"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Reason string `json:"reason"`
 
 	// underlyingCause specifies a finer-grained explanation that complements the eviction reason.
 	// This may be an empty string.
 	//
 	// +required
-	UnderlyingCause EvictionUnderlyingCause `json:"underlyingCause"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	UnderlyingCause EvictionUnderlyingCause `json:"underlyingCause"`
 
 	// count tracks the number of evictions for this reason and detailed reason.
 	//
 	// +required
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Minimum=0
-	Count int32 `json:"count"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Count int32 `json:"count"`
 }
 
 type UnhealthyNode struct {
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ type UnhealthyNode struct {
 	//
 	// +required
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MaxLength=63
-	Name string `json:"name"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Name string `json:"name"`
 }
 
 type RequeueState struct {
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ type AdmissionCheckState struct {
 	// This may be an empty string.
 	// +required
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MaxLength=32768
-	Message string `json:"message" protobuf:"bytes,6,opt,name=message"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // disable should be a pointer rule
+	Message string `json:"message" protobuf:"bytes,6,opt,name=message"`
 
 	// podSetUpdates contains a list of pod set modifications suggested by AdmissionChecks.
 	// +optional
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ type AdmissionCheckState struct {
 type PodSetUpdate struct {
 	// name of the PodSet to modify. Should match to one of the Workload's PodSets.
 	// +required
-	Name PodSetReference `json:"name"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // duplicatemarkers seems to say these are duplicates
+	Name PodSetReference `json:"name"`
 
 	// labels of the PodSet to modify.
 	// +optional
@@ -617,18 +617,18 @@ type PodSetUpdate struct {
 type ReclaimablePod struct {
 	// name is the PodSet name.
 	// +required
-	Name PodSetReference `json:"name"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // duplicatemarkers seems to say these are duplicates
+	Name PodSetReference `json:"name"`
 
 	// count is the number of pods for which the requested resources are no longer needed.
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Minimum=0
 	// +required
-	Count int32 `json:"count"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // should not be a pointer
+	Count int32 `json:"count"`
 }
 
 type PodSetRequest struct {
 	// name is the name of the podSet. It should match one of the names in .spec.podSets.
 	// +required
-	Name PodSetReference `json:"name"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // duplicatemarkers seems to say these are duplicates
+	Name PodSetReference `json:"name"`
 
 	// resources is the total resources all the pods in the podset need to run.
 	//
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ type PodSetRequest struct {
 	// the LimitRange defaults and RuntimeClass overheads at the moment of consideration
 	// and the application of resource.excludeResourcePrefixes and resource.transformations.
 	// +optional
-	Resources corev1.ResourceList `json:"resources,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // map type is required for standard Kubernetes ResourceList
+	Resources corev1.ResourceList `json:"resources,omitempty"`
 }
 
 const (
@@ -812,10 +812,10 @@ type Workload struct {
 
 	// spec is the specification of the Workload.
 	// +optional
-	Spec WorkloadSpec `json:"spec"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // spec should not be a pointer
+	Spec WorkloadSpec `json:"spec"`
 	// status is the status of the Workload.
 	// +optional
-	Status WorkloadStatus `json:"status,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // status should not be a pointer
+	Status WorkloadStatus `json:"status,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // +kubebuilder:object:root=true
diff --git a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/workloadpriorityclass_types.go b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/workloadpriorityclass_types.go
index c6727a659..49c0e3e57 100644
--- a/apis/kueue/v1beta2/workloadpriorityclass_types.go
+++ b/apis/kueue/v1beta2/workloadpriorityclass_types.go
@@ -37,14 +37,14 @@ type WorkloadPriorityClass struct {
 	// receive when jobs have the name of this class in their workloadPriorityClass label.
 	// Changing the value of workloadPriorityClass doesn't affect the priority of workloads that were already created.
 	// +required
-	Value int32 `json:"value"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // disabling should be a pointer
+	Value int32 `json:"value"`
 
 	// description is an arbitrary string that usually provides guidelines on
 	// when this workloadPriorityClass should be used.
 	// The description is limited to a maximum of 2048 characters.
 	// +optional
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MaxLength=2048
-	Description string `json:"description,omitempty"` //nolint:kubeapilinter // disabling should not be a pointer
+	Description string `json:"description,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // +kubebuilder:object:root=true
diff --git a/hack/internal/tools/go.mod b/hack/internal/tools/go.mod
index c9289d1dc..80852c90d 100644
--- a/hack/internal/tools/go.mod
+++ b/hack/internal/tools/go.mod
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/clbanning/mxj/v2 v2.7.0 // indirect
 	github.com/cncf/xds/go v0.0.0-20250501225837-2ac532fd4443 // indirect
 	github.com/common-nighthawk/go-figure v0.0.0-20210622060536-734e95fb86be // indirect
-	github.com/containerd/containerd v1.7.28 // indirect
+	github.com/containerd/containerd v1.7.29 // indirect
 	github.com/containerd/errdefs v0.3.0 // indirect
 	github.com/containerd/log v0.1.0 // indirect
 	github.com/containerd/platforms v0.2.1 // indirect
diff --git a/hack/internal/tools/go.sum b/hack/internal/tools/go.sum
index 445ff09bd..25c83e908 100644
--- a/hack/internal/tools/go.sum
+++ b/hack/internal/tools/go.sum
@@ -324,8 +324,8 @@ github.com/cncf/xds/go v0.0.0-20250501225837-2ac532fd4443 h1:aQ3y1lwWyqYPiWZThqv
 github.com/cncf/xds/go v0.0.0-20250501225837-2ac532fd4443/go.mod h1:W+zGtBO5Y1IgJhy4+A9GOqVhqLpfZi+vwmdNXUehLA8=
 github.com/common-nighthawk/go-figure v0.0.0-20210622060536-734e95fb86be h1:J5BL2kskAlV9ckgEsNQXscjIaLiOYiZ75d4e94E6dcQ=
 github.com/common-nighthawk/go-figure v0.0.0-20210622060536-734e95fb86be/go.mod h1:mk5IQ+Y0ZeO87b858TlA645sVcEcbiX6YqP98kt+7+w=
-github.com/containerd/containerd v1.7.28 h1:Nsgm1AtcmEh4AHAJ4gGlNSaKgXiNccU270Dnf81FQ3c=
-github.com/containerd/containerd v1.7.28/go.mod h1:azUkWcOvHrWvaiUjSQH0fjzuHIwSPg1WL5PshGP4Szs=
+github.com/containerd/containerd v1.7.29 h1:90fWABQsaN9mJhGkoVnuzEY+o1XDPbg9BTC9QTAHnuE=
+github.com/containerd/containerd v1.7.29/go.mod h1:azUkWcOvHrWvaiUjSQH0fjzuHIwSPg1WL5PshGP4Szs=
 github.com/containerd/errdefs v0.3.0 h1:FSZgGOeK4yuT/+DnF07/Olde/q4KBoMsaamhXxIMDp4=
 github.com/containerd/errdefs v0.3.0/go.mod h1:+YBYIdtsnF4Iw6nWZhJcqGSg/dwvV7tyJ/kCkyJ2k+M=
 github.com/containerd/log v0.1.0 h1:TCJt7ioM2cr/tfR8GPbGf9/VRAX8D2B4PjzCpfX540I=



Test patch:
diff --git a/test/e2e/certmanager/certmanager_test.go b/test/e2e/certmanager/certmanager_test.go
index 2aa7a582f..0ec8c6b70 100644
--- a/test/e2e/certmanager/certmanager_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/certmanager/certmanager_test.go
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("CertManager", ginkgo.Ordered, func() {
 		ginkgo.It("should admit a Job", func() {
 			testJob := testingjob.MakeJob("test-job", ns.Name).
 				Queue("main").
+				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				Suspend(false).
 				Obj()
 			util.MustCreate(ctx, k8sClient, testJob)
diff --git a/test/e2e/customconfigs/objectretentionpolicies_test.go b/test/e2e/customconfigs/objectretentionpolicies_test.go
index 05a150ba1..1117786ea 100644
--- a/test/e2e/customconfigs/objectretentionpolicies_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/customconfigs/objectretentionpolicies_test.go
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("ObjectRetentionPolicies", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.Contin
 
 		job := testingjob.MakeJob("job", ns.Name).
 			Queue(kueue.LocalQueueName(lq.Name)).
+			Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 			RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "1").
 			Obj()
 		ginkgo.By("Creating a Job", func() {
@@ -318,6 +319,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("ObjectRetentionPolicies with TinyTimeout and RequeuingL
 	ginkgo.It("should delete Job", func() {
 		job := testingjob.MakeJob("job", ns.Name).
 			Queue(kueue.LocalQueueName(lq.Name)).
+			Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 			RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "1").
 			Obj()
 		ginkgo.By("Creating a Job", func() {
diff --git a/test/e2e/customconfigs/waitforpodsready_test.go b/test/e2e/customconfigs/waitforpodsready_test.go
index 863d1796c..5dff224c9 100644
--- a/test/e2e/customconfigs/waitforpodsready_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/customconfigs/waitforpodsready_test.go
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("WaitForPodsReady with tiny Timeout and no RecoveryTimeo
 		ginkgo.By("creating a suspended job so its pods never report Ready", func() {
 			job = testingjob.MakeJob("job-timeout", ns.Name).
 				Queue(kueue.LocalQueueName(lq.Name)).
+				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				Request(corev1.ResourceCPU, "2").
 				Parallelism(1).
 				Obj()
diff --git a/test/e2e/singlecluster/e2e_test.go b/test/e2e/singlecluster/e2e_test.go
index c673cb2e5..3bb0cc0ab 100644
--- a/test/e2e/singlecluster/e2e_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/singlecluster/e2e_test.go
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Kueue", func() {
 		ns = util.CreateNamespaceFromPrefixWithLog(ctx, k8sClient, "e2e-")
 		sampleJob = testingjob.MakeJob("test-job", ns.Name).
 			Queue("main").
+			Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 			RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "1").
 			RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceMemory, "20Mi").
 			Obj()
@@ -300,6 +301,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Kueue", func() {
 			ginkgo.By("Job is preempted by higher priority job", func() {
 				job := testingjob.MakeJob("high", ns.Name).
 					Queue("main").
+					Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 					PriorityClass("high").
 					RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "1").
 					NodeSelector("instance-type", "on-demand"). // target the same flavor to cause preemption
@@ -336,6 +338,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Kueue", func() {
 			ginkgo.By("Job is preempted by higher priority job", func() {
 				job := testingjob.MakeJob("high-with-wpc", ns.Name).
 					Queue("main").
+					Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 					WorkloadPriorityClass("high-workload").
 					RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "1").
 					NodeSelector("instance-type", "on-demand"). // target the same flavor to cause preemption
@@ -505,6 +508,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Kueue", func() {
 
 			lowJob := testingjob.MakeJob("low", ns.Name).
 				Queue(kueue.LocalQueueName(localQueue.Name)).
+				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				Parallelism(1).
 				NodeSelector("instance-type", "on-demand").
 				Containers(
@@ -539,6 +543,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Kueue", func() {
 
 			highJob := testingjob.MakeJob("high", ns.Name).
 				Queue(kueue.LocalQueueName(localQueue.Name)).
+				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				Parallelism(1).
 				PriorityClass(highPriorityClass.Name).
 				Request(corev1.ResourceCPU, "1").
@@ -726,7 +731,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Kueue", func() {
 					workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&patch.Status.AdmissionChecks, kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 						Name:  "check1",
 						State: kueue.CheckStateReady,
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Patch(ctx, patch, client.Apply, client.FieldOwner("test-admission-check-controller"), client.ForceOwnership)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
@@ -764,7 +769,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Kueue", func() {
 					workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&patch.Status.AdmissionChecks, kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 						Name:  "check1",
 						State: kueue.CheckStateReady,
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Patch(ctx, patch, client.Apply, client.FieldOwner("test-admission-check-controller"), client.ForceOwnership)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
@@ -780,7 +785,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Kueue", func() {
 					workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&patch.Status.AdmissionChecks, kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 						Name:  "check1",
 						State: kueue.CheckStateRejected,
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Patch(ctx, patch, client.Apply,
 						client.FieldOwner("test-admission-check-controller"),
 						client.ForceOwnership)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
diff --git a/test/e2e/singlecluster/e2e_v1beta1_test.go b/test/e2e/singlecluster/e2e_v1beta1_test.go
index 25437afae..25ed6833b 100644
--- a/test/e2e/singlecluster/e2e_v1beta1_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/singlecluster/e2e_v1beta1_test.go
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Kueue v1beta2", func() {
 		ns = util.CreateNamespaceFromPrefixWithLog(ctx, k8sClient, "e2e-")
 		sampleJob = testingjob.MakeJob("test-job", ns.Name).
 			Queue("main").
+			Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 			RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "1").
 			RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceMemory, "20Mi").
 			Obj()
diff --git a/test/e2e/singlecluster/metrics_test.go b/test/e2e/singlecluster/metrics_test.go
index 6dbb0a0ee..0593fcc01 100644
--- a/test/e2e/singlecluster/metrics_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/singlecluster/metrics_test.go
@@ -261,6 +261,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Metrics", func() {
 
 			createdJob = testingjob.MakeJob("admission-checked-job", ns.Name).
 				Queue(kueue.LocalQueueName(localQueue.Name)).
+				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "1").
 				Obj()
 			util.MustCreate(ctx, k8sClient, createdJob)
@@ -295,7 +296,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Metrics", func() {
 					workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&patch.Status.AdmissionChecks, kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 						Name:  kueue.AdmissionCheckReference(admissionCheck.Name),
 						State: kueue.CheckStateReady,
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().
 						Patch(ctx, patch, client.Apply, client.FieldOwner("test-admission-check-controller"), client.ForceOwnership)).
 						Should(gomega.Succeed())
@@ -404,6 +405,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Metrics", func() {
 
 			lowerJob1 = testingjob.MakeJob("lower-job-1", ns.Name).
 				Queue(kueue.LocalQueueName(localQueue1.Name)).
+				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "1").
 				Obj()
 			util.MustCreate(ctx, k8sClient, lowerJob1)
@@ -423,6 +425,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Metrics", func() {
 
 			lowerJob2 = testingjob.MakeJob("lower-job-2", ns.Name).
 				Queue(kueue.LocalQueueName(localQueue2.Name)).
+				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "1").
 				Obj()
 			util.MustCreate(ctx, k8sClient, lowerJob2)
@@ -442,6 +445,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Metrics", func() {
 
 			blockerJob = testingjob.MakeJob("blocker", ns.Name).
 				Queue(kueue.LocalQueueName(localQueue2.Name)).
+				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				PriorityClass(highPriorityClass.Name).
 				RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "3").
 				Obj()
@@ -462,6 +466,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Metrics", func() {
 
 			higherJob1 = testingjob.MakeJob("high-large-1", ns.Name).
 				Queue(kueue.LocalQueueName(localQueue1.Name)).
+				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				PriorityClass(highPriorityClass.Name).
 				RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "4").
 				Obj()
@@ -469,6 +474,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Metrics", func() {
 
 			higherJob2 = testingjob.MakeJob("high-large-2", ns.Name).
 				Queue(kueue.LocalQueueName(localQueue2.Name)).
+				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				PriorityClass(highPriorityClass.Name).
 				RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "4").
 				Obj()
diff --git a/test/e2e/singlecluster/suite_test.go b/test/e2e/singlecluster/suite_test.go
index afe32b742..5c47eb939 100644
--- a/test/e2e/singlecluster/suite_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/singlecluster/suite_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
 	"github.com/onsi/gomega"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/rest"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
 	kueueclientset "sigs.k8s.io/kueue/client-go/clientset/versioned"
@@ -37,7 +36,6 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	kueuectlPath                 = filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "bin", "kubectl-kueue")
-	realClock                    = clock.RealClock{}
 	k8sClient                    client.WithWatch
 	cfg                          *rest.Config
 	restClient                   *rest.RESTClient
diff --git a/test/e2e/singlecluster/tas_test.go b/test/e2e/singlecluster/tas_test.go
index 43f568aca..66b59d84a 100644
--- a/test/e2e/singlecluster/tas_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/singlecluster/tas_test.go
@@ -98,9 +98,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("TopologyAwareScheduling", func() {
 				Queue(kueue.LocalQueueName(localQueue.Name)).
 				RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceCPU, "700m").
 				RequestAndLimit(corev1.ResourceMemory, "20Mi").
-				Obj()
-			jobKey := client.ObjectKeyFromObject(sampleJob)
-			sampleJob = (&testingjob.JobWrapper{Job: *sampleJob}).
 				PodAnnotation(kueue.PodSetRequiredTopologyAnnotation, corev1.LabelHostname).
 				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorExitFast).
 				Obj()
@@ -109,6 +106,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("TopologyAwareScheduling", func() {
 			createdWorkload := &kueue.Workload{}
 
 			// The job might have finished at this point. That shouldn't be a problem for the purpose of this test
+			jobKey := client.ObjectKeyFromObject(sampleJob)
 			util.ExpectJobUnsuspendedWithNodeSelectors(ctx, k8sClient, jobKey, map[string]string{
 				"instance-type": "on-demand",
 			})
diff --git a/test/e2e/tas/job_test.go b/test/e2e/tas/job_test.go
index 2bae3bed4..cc1f0bdfa 100644
--- a/test/e2e/tas/job_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/tas/job_test.go
@@ -120,8 +120,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("TopologyAwareScheduling for Job", func() {
 				Parallelism(3).
 				Completions(3).
 				RequestAndLimit(extraResource, "1").
-				Obj()
-			sampleJob = (&testingjob.JobWrapper{Job: *sampleJob}).
 				PodAnnotation(kueue.PodSetPreferredTopologyAnnotation, testing.DefaultRackTopologyLevel).
 				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorExitFast).
 				Obj()
@@ -172,8 +170,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("TopologyAwareScheduling for Job", func() {
 				Parallelism(3).
 				Completions(3).
 				RequestAndLimit(extraResource, "1").
-				Obj()
-			sampleJob = (&testingjob.JobWrapper{Job: *sampleJob}).
 				PodAnnotation(kueue.PodSetRequiredTopologyAnnotation, testing.DefaultBlockTopologyLevel).
 				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorExitFast).
 				Obj()
@@ -225,8 +221,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("TopologyAwareScheduling for Job", func() {
 				Parallelism(2).
 				Completions(3).
 				RequestAndLimit(extraResource, "1").
-				Obj()
-			sampleJob = (&testingjob.JobWrapper{Job: *sampleJob}).
 				PodAnnotation(kueue.PodSetRequiredTopologyAnnotation, testing.DefaultBlockTopologyLevel).
 				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorExitFast).
 				Obj()
@@ -253,8 +247,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("TopologyAwareScheduling for Job", func() {
 				Completions(int32(numPods)).
 				Indexed(true).
 				RequestAndLimit(extraResource, "1").
-				Obj()
-			sampleJob = (&testingjob.JobWrapper{Job: *sampleJob}).
 				PodAnnotation(kueue.PodSetRequiredTopologyAnnotation, testing.DefaultBlockTopologyLevel).
 				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				Obj()
diff --git a/test/e2e/tas/pod_group_test.go b/test/e2e/tas/pod_group_test.go
index 7e82a6c88..d0075dacd 100644
--- a/test/e2e/tas/pod_group_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/tas/pod_group_test.go
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("TopologyAwareScheduling for Pod group", func() {
 			numPods := 4
 			basePod := testingpod.MakePod("test-pod", ns.Name).
 				Queue("test-queue").
+				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				Request(extraResource, "1").
 				Limit(extraResource, "1")
 			podGroup := basePod.MakeIndexedGroup(numPods)
@@ -216,6 +217,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("TopologyAwareScheduling for Pod group", func() {
 			numPods := 4
 			basePod := testingpod.MakePod("test-pod", ns.Name).
 				Queue("test-queue").
+				Image(util.GetAgnHostImage(), util.BehaviorWaitForDeletion).
 				Request(extraResource, "1").
 				Limit(extraResource, "1")
 			podGroup := basePod.MakeIndexedGroup(numPods)
diff --git a/test/integration/multikueue/dispatcher_test.go b/test/integration/multikueue/dispatcher_test.go
index 6e1348ded..8d51c379c 100644
--- a/test/integration/multikueue/dispatcher_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/multikueue/dispatcher_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/manager"
 
@@ -63,7 +62,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueueDispatcherIncremental", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkg
 
 		worker2Cq *kueue.ClusterQueue
 		worker2Lq *kueue.LocalQueue
-		realClock = clock.RealClock{}
 	)
 
 	ginkgo.BeforeAll(func() {
@@ -211,13 +209,13 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueueDispatcherIncremental", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkg
 		ginkgo.By("setting the check conditions for eviction", func() {
 			gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 				g.Expect(managerTestCluster.client.Get(managerTestCluster.ctx, wlLookupKey, createdWorkload)).To(gomega.Succeed())
-				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(managerTestCluster.ctx, managerTestCluster.client, createdWorkload, realClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(managerTestCluster.ctx, managerTestCluster.client, createdWorkload, util.RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
 					acs := kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 						Name:    kueue.AdmissionCheckReference(multiKueueAC.Name),
 						State:   kueue.CheckStateRejected,
 						Message: "check rejected",
 					}
-					return createdWorkload, workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&createdWorkload.Status.AdmissionChecks, acs, realClock), nil
+					return createdWorkload, workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&createdWorkload.Status.AdmissionChecks, acs, util.RealClock), nil
 				})).To(gomega.Succeed())
 			}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 		})
@@ -246,7 +244,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueueDispatcherExternal", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.C
 		multiKueueAC             *kueue.AdmissionCheck
 		managerCq                *kueue.ClusterQueue
 		managerLq                *kueue.LocalQueue
-		realClock                = clock.RealClock{}
 
 		worker1Cq *kueue.ClusterQueue
 		worker1Lq *kueue.LocalQueue
@@ -379,7 +376,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueueDispatcherExternal", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.C
 			gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 				managerWl := &kueue.Workload{}
 				g.Expect(managerTestCluster.client.Get(managerTestCluster.ctx, wlLookupKey, managerWl)).To(gomega.Succeed())
-				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(managerTestCluster.ctx, managerTestCluster.client, managerWl, realClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(managerTestCluster.ctx, managerTestCluster.client, managerWl, util.RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
 					managerWl.Status.NominatedClusterNames = []string{workerCluster2.Name}
 					return managerWl, true, nil
 				})).To(gomega.Succeed())
@@ -409,7 +406,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueueDispatcherExternal", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.C
 			managerWl := &kueue.Workload{}
 			gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 				g.Expect(managerTestCluster.client.Get(managerTestCluster.ctx, wlLookupKey, managerWl)).To(gomega.Succeed())
-				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(managerTestCluster.ctx, managerTestCluster.client, managerWl, realClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(managerTestCluster.ctx, managerTestCluster.client, managerWl, util.RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
 					managerWl.Status.NominatedClusterNames = []string{workerCluster1.Name, workerCluster2.Name}
 					return managerWl, true, nil
 				})).To(gomega.Succeed())
@@ -451,13 +448,13 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueueDispatcherExternal", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.C
 		ginkgo.By("setting the check conditions for eviction", func() {
 			gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 				g.Expect(managerTestCluster.client.Get(managerTestCluster.ctx, wlLookupKey, createdWorkload)).To(gomega.Succeed())
-				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(managerTestCluster.ctx, managerTestCluster.client, createdWorkload, realClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(managerTestCluster.ctx, managerTestCluster.client, createdWorkload, util.RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
 					acs := kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 						Name:    kueue.AdmissionCheckReference(multiKueueAC.Name),
 						State:   kueue.CheckStateRejected,
 						Message: "check rejected",
 					}
-					return createdWorkload, workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&createdWorkload.Status.AdmissionChecks, acs, realClock), nil
+					return createdWorkload, workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&createdWorkload.Status.AdmissionChecks, acs, util.RealClock), nil
 				})).To(gomega.Succeed())
 			}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 		})
@@ -492,7 +489,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueueDispatcherAllAtOnce", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.
 
 		worker2Cq *kueue.ClusterQueue
 		worker2Lq *kueue.LocalQueue
-		realClock = clock.RealClock{}
 	)
 
 	ginkgo.BeforeAll(func() {
@@ -663,7 +659,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueueDispatcherAllAtOnce", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.
 		ginkgo.By("Resetting ClusterName field in the manager", func() {
 			gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 				g.Expect(managerTestCluster.client.Get(managerTestCluster.ctx, wlLookupKey, createdWorkload)).To(gomega.Succeed())
-				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(managerTestCluster.ctx, managerTestCluster.client, createdWorkload, realClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(managerTestCluster.ctx, managerTestCluster.client, createdWorkload, util.RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
 					createdWorkload.Status.ClusterName = nil
 					return createdWorkload, true, nil
 				})).To(gomega.Succeed())
diff --git a/test/integration/multikueue/jobs_test.go b/test/integration/multikueue/jobs_test.go
index 1505dd1f4..3a6b8fcb3 100644
--- a/test/integration/multikueue/jobs_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/multikueue/jobs_test.go
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/manager"
@@ -1632,7 +1631,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueue", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure,
 		manager := managerTestCluster
 		worker1 := worker1TestCluster
 		worker2 := worker2TestCluster
-		realClock := clock.RealClock{}
 
 		features.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(ginkgo.GinkgoTB(), features.ElasticJobsViaWorkloadSlices, true)
 
@@ -1765,7 +1763,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueue", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure,
 		ginkgo.By("admit the new workload and finish the old workload in the manager cluster", func() {
 			gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 				oldWorkload := getWorkload(g, manager.ctx, manager.client, workloadKey)
-				g.Expect(workloadslicing.Finish(manager.ctx, manager.client, realClock, oldWorkload, kueue.WorkloadSliceReplaced, "Replaced to accommodate a new slice")).To(gomega.Succeed())
+				g.Expect(workloadslicing.Finish(manager.ctx, manager.client, util.RealClock, oldWorkload, kueue.WorkloadSliceReplaced, "Replaced to accommodate a new slice")).To(gomega.Succeed())
 			}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			util.SetQuotaReservation(manager.ctx, manager.client, newWorkloadKey, utiltestingapi.MakeAdmission(managerCq.Name).Obj())
 		})
@@ -1802,7 +1800,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueue", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure,
 			util.SetQuotaReservation(worker1.ctx, worker1.client, newWorkloadKey, utiltestingapi.MakeAdmission(managerCq.Name).Obj())
 			gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 				workload := getWorkload(g, worker1.ctx, worker1.client, workloadKey)
-				g.Expect(workloadslicing.Finish(worker1.ctx, worker1.client, realClock, workload, kueue.WorkloadSliceReplaced, "Replaced to accommodate a new slice")).To(gomega.Succeed())
+				g.Expect(workloadslicing.Finish(worker1.ctx, worker1.client, util.RealClock, workload, kueue.WorkloadSliceReplaced, "Replaced to accommodate a new slice")).To(gomega.Succeed())
 			}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 		})
 
diff --git a/test/integration/multikueue/no_gc_test.go b/test/integration/multikueue/no_gc_test.go
index 960e77683..2c7c82de6 100644
--- a/test/integration/multikueue/no_gc_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/multikueue/no_gc_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import (
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/manager"
 
@@ -62,7 +61,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueue no GC", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFai
 
 		worker2Cq *kueue.ClusterQueue
 		worker2Lq *kueue.LocalQueue
-		realClock clock.RealClock
 	)
 
 	ginkgo.BeforeAll(func() {
@@ -258,7 +256,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("MultiKueue no GC", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFai
 				workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&createdWorkload.Status.AdmissionChecks, kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 					Name:  kueue.AdmissionCheckReference(multiKueueAC.Name),
 					State: kueue.CheckStateRejected,
-				}, realClock)
+				}, util.RealClock)
 				g.Expect(managerTestCluster.client.Status().Update(managerTestCluster.ctx, createdWorkload)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 		})
diff --git a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/core/workload_controller_test.go b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/core/workload_controller_test.go
index e9efa7fa6..5ed2bf80e 100644
--- a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/core/workload_controller_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/core/workload_controller_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import (
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	apimeta "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
@@ -52,7 +51,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOn
 		clusterQueue                 *kueue.ClusterQueue
 		workloadPriorityClass        *kueue.WorkloadPriorityClass
 		updatedWorkloadPriorityClass *kueue.WorkloadPriorityClass
-		realClock                    = clock.RealClock{}
 	)
 
 	ginkgo.BeforeAll(func() {
@@ -227,12 +225,12 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOn
 						Name:    "check1",
 						State:   kueue.CheckStateReady,
 						Message: "check successfully passed",
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&createdWl.Status.AdmissionChecks, kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 						Name:    "check2",
 						State:   kueue.CheckStateRetry,
 						Message: "check rejected",
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &createdWl)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
@@ -293,7 +291,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOn
 						Name:    "check1",
 						State:   kueue.CheckStateRejected,
 						Message: "check rejected",
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &createdWl)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
@@ -345,12 +343,12 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOn
 						Name:    "check1",
 						State:   kueue.CheckStateReady,
 						Message: "check ready",
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&createdWl.Status.AdmissionChecks, kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 						Name:    "check2",
 						State:   kueue.CheckStateReady,
 						Message: "check ready",
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &createdWl)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 
@@ -374,7 +372,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOn
 						Name:    "check1",
 						State:   kueue.CheckStateRejected,
 						Message: "check rejected",
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &createdWl)).To(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
@@ -506,8 +504,8 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOn
 			ginkgo.By("evicting the workload, the accumulated admission time is updated", func() {
 				gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Get(ctx, key, wl)).To(gomega.Succeed())
-					g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, wl, realClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
-						return wl, workload.SetEvictedCondition(wl, realClock.Now(), "ByTest", "by test"), nil
+					g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, wl, util.RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+						return wl, workload.SetEvictedCondition(wl, util.RealClock.Now(), "ByTest", "by test"), nil
 					})).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				util.FinishEvictionForWorkloads(ctx, k8sClient, wl)
diff --git a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/appwrapper/appwrapper_controller_test.go b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/appwrapper/appwrapper_controller_test.go
index 8ed59b7f9..2011b69ad 100644
--- a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/appwrapper/appwrapper_controller_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/appwrapper/appwrapper_controller_test.go
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
@@ -57,8 +56,6 @@ const (
 )
 
 var _ = ginkgo.Describe("AppWrapper controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure, func() {
-	var realClock = clock.RealClock{}
-
 	ginkgo.BeforeAll(func() {
 		fwk.StartManager(ctx, cfg, managerSetup(jobframework.WithManageJobsWithoutQueueName(true),
 			jobframework.WithManagedJobsNamespaceSelector(util.NewNamespaceSelectorExcluding("unmanaged-ns"))))
@@ -285,7 +282,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("AppWrapper controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.Continue
 			ginkgo.By("preempt the workload", func() {
 				gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Get(ctx, wlLookupKey, createdWorkload)).To(gomega.Succeed())
-					g.Expect(workload.UpdateStatus(ctx, k8sClient, createdWorkload, kueue.WorkloadEvicted, metav1.ConditionTrue, kueue.WorkloadEvictedByPreemption, "By test", "evict", clock.RealClock{})).To(gomega.Succeed())
+					g.Expect(workload.UpdateStatus(ctx, k8sClient, createdWorkload, kueue.WorkloadEvicted, metav1.ConditionTrue, kueue.WorkloadEvictedByPreemption, "By test", "evict", util.RealClock)).To(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
 
@@ -430,7 +427,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("AppWrapper controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.Continue
 								},
 							},
 						},
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &newWL)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
diff --git a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/jaxjob/jaxjob_controller_test.go b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/jaxjob/jaxjob_controller_test.go
index 3de5e2c52..ca5866111 100644
--- a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/jaxjob/jaxjob_controller_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/jaxjob/jaxjob_controller_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
@@ -92,8 +91,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Job controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailu
 })
 
 var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Job controller for workloads when only jobs with queue are managed", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure, func() {
-	var realClock = clock.RealClock{}
-
 	ginkgo.BeforeAll(func() {
 		fwk.StartManager(ctx, cfg, managerSetup())
 	})
@@ -229,7 +226,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Job controller for workloads when only jobs with queue
 								},
 							},
 						},
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &newWL)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
diff --git a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/job/job_controller_test.go b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/job/job_controller_test.go
index 55e6ec827..a04eef776 100644
--- a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/job/job_controller_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/job/job_controller_test.go
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/selection"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	utilfeature "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/feature"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
@@ -68,8 +67,6 @@ const (
 )
 
 var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Job controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure, func() {
-	var realClock = clock.RealClock{}
-
 	ginkgo.BeforeAll(func() {
 		fwk.StartManager(ctx, cfg, managerSetup(
 			jobframework.WithManageJobsWithoutQueueName(true),
@@ -639,7 +636,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Job controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailu
 					kueue.WorkloadEvicted,
 					metav1.ConditionTrue,
 					kueue.WorkloadEvictedByPreemption, "By test", "evict",
-					clock.RealClock{},
+					util.RealClock,
 				)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 		})
@@ -773,7 +770,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Job controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailu
 								},
 							},
 						},
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &newWL)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
@@ -891,7 +888,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Job controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailu
 								},
 							},
 						},
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &newWL)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
@@ -2405,7 +2402,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Interacting with scheduler", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.Con
 					workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&createdLowWorkload.Status.AdmissionChecks, kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 						Name:  kueue.AdmissionCheckReference(admissionCheck.Name),
 						State: kueue.CheckStateReady,
-					}, clock.RealClock{})
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, createdLowWorkload)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
@@ -2451,7 +2448,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Interacting with scheduler", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.Con
 					workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&createdHighWorkload.Status.AdmissionChecks, kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 						Name:  kueue.AdmissionCheckReference(admissionCheck.Name),
 						State: kueue.CheckStateReady,
-					}, clock.RealClock{})
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, createdHighWorkload)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
diff --git a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/jobset/jobset_controller_test.go b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/jobset/jobset_controller_test.go
index 251b06b0f..43b7d0550 100644
--- a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/jobset/jobset_controller_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/jobset/jobset_controller_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
@@ -55,8 +54,6 @@ const (
 )
 
 var _ = ginkgo.Describe("JobSet controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure, func() {
-	var realClock = clock.RealClock{}
-
 	ginkgo.BeforeAll(func() {
 		fwk.StartManager(ctx, cfg, managerSetup(jobframework.WithManageJobsWithoutQueueName(true),
 			jobframework.WithManagedJobsNamespaceSelector(util.NewNamespaceSelectorExcluding("unmanaged-ns"))))
@@ -354,7 +351,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("JobSet controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFa
 			ginkgo.By("preempt the workload", func() {
 				gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Get(ctx, wlLookupKey, createdWorkload)).To(gomega.Succeed())
-					g.Expect(workload.UpdateStatus(ctx, k8sClient, createdWorkload, kueue.WorkloadEvicted, metav1.ConditionTrue, kueue.WorkloadEvictedByPreemption, "By test", "evict", clock.RealClock{})).To(gomega.Succeed())
+					g.Expect(workload.UpdateStatus(ctx, k8sClient, createdWorkload, kueue.WorkloadEvicted, metav1.ConditionTrue, kueue.WorkloadEvictedByPreemption, "By test", "evict", util.RealClock)).To(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
 
@@ -591,7 +588,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("JobSet controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFa
 								},
 							},
 						},
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &newWL)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
diff --git a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/mpijob/mpijob_controller_test.go b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/mpijob/mpijob_controller_test.go
index 22af84fd5..7fd268284 100644
--- a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/mpijob/mpijob_controller_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/mpijob/mpijob_controller_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
@@ -55,8 +54,6 @@ const (
 )
 
 var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Job controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure, func() {
-	var realClock = clock.RealClock{}
-
 	ginkgo.BeforeAll(func() {
 		fwk.StartManager(ctx, cfg, managerSetup(false, jobframework.WithManageJobsWithoutQueueName(true),
 			jobframework.WithManagedJobsNamespaceSelector(util.NewNamespaceSelectorExcluding("unmanaged-ns"))))
@@ -369,7 +366,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Job controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailu
 								},
 							},
 						},
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &newWL)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
diff --git a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/pod/pod_controller_test.go b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/pod/pod_controller_test.go
index d617e41fe..36f0ed51b 100644
--- a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/pod/pod_controller_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/pod/pod_controller_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/controller/controllerutil"
@@ -61,8 +60,6 @@ var (
 )
 
 var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Pod controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure, func() {
-	var realClock = clock.RealClock{}
-
 	ginkgo.When("manageJobsWithoutQueueName is disabled", func() {
 		var defaultFlavor = utiltestingapi.MakeResourceFlavor("default").NodeLabel(corev1.LabelArchStable, "arm64").Obj()
 		var clusterQueue = utiltestingapi.MakeClusterQueue("cluster-queue").
@@ -331,7 +328,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Pod controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailu
 
 					gomega.Expect(
 						workload.UpdateStatus(ctx, k8sClient, createdWorkload, kueue.WorkloadEvicted, metav1.ConditionTrue,
-							kueue.WorkloadEvictedByPreemption, "By test", "evict", clock.RealClock{}),
+							kueue.WorkloadEvictedByPreemption, "By test", "evict", util.RealClock),
 					).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 					util.FinishEvictionForWorkloads(ctx, k8sClient, createdWorkload)
 
@@ -509,7 +506,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Pod controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailu
 										},
 									},
 								},
-							}, realClock)
+							}, util.RealClock)
 							g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &newWL)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 						}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 					})
@@ -834,8 +831,8 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Pod controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailu
 					createdWorkload := &kueue.Workload{}
 					gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 						g.Expect(k8sClient.Get(ctx, wlLookupKey, createdWorkload)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
-						g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, createdWorkload, realClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
-							return createdWorkload, workload.SetEvictedCondition(createdWorkload, realClock.Now(), "ByTest", "by test"), nil
+						g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, createdWorkload, util.RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+							return createdWorkload, workload.SetEvictedCondition(createdWorkload, util.RealClock.Now(), "ByTest", "by test"), nil
 						})).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 					}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 
@@ -1427,8 +1424,8 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Pod controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailu
 				ginkgo.By("setting evicted condition to true", func() {
 					gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 						g.Expect(k8sClient.Get(ctx, wlKey, wl)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
-						g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, wl, realClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
-							return wl, workload.SetEvictedCondition(wl, realClock.Now(), kueue.WorkloadEvictedByPreemption, "By test"), nil
+						g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, wl, util.RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+							return wl, workload.SetEvictedCondition(wl, util.RealClock.Now(), kueue.WorkloadEvictedByPreemption, "By test"), nil
 						})).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 					}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				})
diff --git a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/pytorchjob/pytorchjob_controller_test.go b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/pytorchjob/pytorchjob_controller_test.go
index d00a656ea..2cb35dedc 100644
--- a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/pytorchjob/pytorchjob_controller_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/pytorchjob/pytorchjob_controller_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
@@ -96,8 +95,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Job controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailu
 })
 
 var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Job controller for workloads when only jobs with queue are managed", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOnFailure, func() {
-	var realClock = clock.RealClock{}
-
 	ginkgo.BeforeAll(func() {
 		fwk.StartManager(ctx, cfg, managerSetup())
 	})
@@ -233,7 +230,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Job controller for workloads when only jobs with queue
 								},
 							},
 						},
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &newWL)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
diff --git a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/trainjob/trainjob_controller_test.go b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/trainjob/trainjob_controller_test.go
index db477799a..4f2c9a827 100644
--- a/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/trainjob/trainjob_controller_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/singlecluster/controller/jobs/trainjob/trainjob_controller_test.go
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	jobsetapi "sigs.k8s.io/jobset/api/jobset/v1alpha2"
@@ -259,7 +258,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Trainjob controller", ginkgo.Ordered, ginkgo.ContinueOn
 			ginkgo.By("preempt the workload", func() {
 				gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Get(ctx, wlLookupKey, createdWorkload)).To(gomega.Succeed())
-					g.Expect(workload.UpdateStatus(ctx, k8sClient, createdWorkload, kueue.WorkloadEvicted, metav1.ConditionTrue, kueue.WorkloadEvictedByPreemption, "By test", "evict", clock.RealClock{})).To(gomega.Succeed())
+					g.Expect(workload.UpdateStatus(ctx, k8sClient, createdWorkload, kueue.WorkloadEvicted, metav1.ConditionTrue, kueue.WorkloadEvictedByPreemption, "By test", "evict", util.RealClock)).To(gomega.Succeed())
 				}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			})
 
diff --git a/test/integration/singlecluster/scheduler/podsready/scheduler_test.go b/test/integration/singlecluster/scheduler/podsready/scheduler_test.go
index 225ae0853..9ce02c2c7 100644
--- a/test/integration/singlecluster/scheduler/podsready/scheduler_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/singlecluster/scheduler/podsready/scheduler_test.go
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import (
 	apimeta "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
@@ -244,8 +243,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("SchedulerWithWaitForPodsReady", func() {
 	})
 
 	var _ = ginkgo.Context("Short PodsReady timeout", func() {
-		var realClock = clock.RealClock{}
-
 		ginkgo.BeforeEach(func() {
 			podsReadyTimeout = util.ShortTimeout
 			requeueingBackoffLimitCount = ptr.To[int32](2)
@@ -332,7 +329,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("SchedulerWithWaitForPodsReady", func() {
 				g.Expect(k8sClient.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(prodWl), prodWl)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 				g.Expect(workload.IsActive(prodWl)).Should(gomega.BeFalse())
 				g.Expect(prodWl.Status.RequeueState).Should(gomega.BeNil())
-				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, prodWl, realClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, prodWl, util.RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
 					return prodWl, workload.SetRequeuedCondition(prodWl, kueue.WorkloadDeactivated, "by test", false), nil
 				})).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
diff --git a/test/integration/singlecluster/scheduler/workload_controller_test.go b/test/integration/singlecluster/scheduler/workload_controller_test.go
index dd3d2e888..e486d5f94 100644
--- a/test/integration/singlecluster/scheduler/workload_controller_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/singlecluster/scheduler/workload_controller_test.go
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import (
 	nodev1 "k8s.io/api/node/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
 	kueue "sigs.k8s.io/kueue/apis/kueue/v1beta2"
@@ -126,7 +125,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload controller with scheduler", func() {
 		})
 
 		ginkgo.It("the workload should have appropriate AdditionalChecks added", framework.SlowSpec, func() {
-			var realClock = clock.RealClock{}
 			wl := utiltestingapi.MakeWorkload("wl", ns.Name).
 				Queue("queue").
 				Request(resourceGPU, "3").
@@ -168,12 +166,12 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload controller with scheduler", func() {
 						Name:    "check1",
 						State:   kueue.CheckStateReady,
 						Message: "check successfully passed",
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&updatedWl.Status.AdmissionChecks, kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 						Name:    "check3",
 						State:   kueue.CheckStateReady,
 						Message: "check successfully passed",
-					}, realClock)
+					}, util.RealClock)
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &updatedWl)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 					g.Expect(k8sClient.Get(ctx, wlKey, &updatedWl)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 					g.Expect(workload.IsAdmitted(&updatedWl)).Should(gomega.BeTrue(), "should have been admitted")
diff --git a/test/integration/singlecluster/webhook/core/workload_test.go b/test/integration/singlecluster/webhook/core/workload_test.go
index 56904268e..ef3f8ced1 100644
--- a/test/integration/singlecluster/webhook/core/workload_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/singlecluster/webhook/core/workload_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import (
 	schedulingv1 "k8s.io/api/scheduling/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/manager"
@@ -131,8 +130,6 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload validating webhook", ginkgo.Ordered, func() {
 		fwk.StopManager(ctx)
 	})
 
-	var realClock = clock.RealClock{}
-
 	ginkgo.Context("When creating a Workload", func() {
 		ginkgo.DescribeTable("Should have valid PodSet when creating", func(podSetsCapacity int, podSetCount int, isInvalid bool) {
 			podSets := make([]kueue.PodSet, podSetsCapacity)
@@ -321,8 +318,8 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload validating webhook", ginkgo.Ordered, func() {
 
 			gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 				g.Expect(k8sClient.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(wl), wl)).To(gomega.Succeed())
-				err := workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, wl, clock.RealClock{}, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
-					return wl, workload.SetQuotaReservation(wl, a, clock.RealClock{}), nil
+				err := workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, wl, util.RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+					return wl, workload.SetQuotaReservation(wl, a, util.RealClock), nil
 				})
 				g.Expect(err).Should(matcher)
 			}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
@@ -377,7 +374,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload validating webhook", ginkgo.Ordered, func() {
 
 			gomega.Eventually(func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 				g.Expect(k8sClient.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(wl), wl)).To(gomega.Succeed())
-				workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&wl.Status.AdmissionChecks, acs, realClock)
+				workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&wl.Status.AdmissionChecks, acs, util.RealClock)
 				g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, wl)).Should(utiltesting.BeForbiddenError())
 			}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 		},
@@ -1143,7 +1140,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload validating webhook", ginkgo.Ordered, func() {
 					LastTransitionTime: metav1.NewTime(time.Now()),
 					PodSetUpdates:      []kueue.PodSetUpdate{{Name: "first", Labels: map[string]string{"foo": "bar"}}, {Name: "second"}},
 					State:              kueue.CheckStateReady,
-				}, realClock)
+				}, util.RealClock)
 				g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, wl)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 
@@ -1156,7 +1153,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload validating webhook", ginkgo.Ordered, func() {
 					LastTransitionTime: metav1.NewTime(time.Now()),
 					PodSetUpdates:      []kueue.PodSetUpdate{{Name: "first", Labels: map[string]string{"foo": "baz"}}, {Name: "second"}},
 					State:              kueue.CheckStateReady,
-				}, realClock)
+				}, util.RealClock)
 				g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, wl)).Should(utiltesting.BeForbiddenError())
 			}, util.Timeout, util.Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 		})
@@ -1180,7 +1177,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload validating webhook", ginkgo.Ordered, func() {
 						Assignment(corev1.ResourceCPU, "default", "1").
 						Obj()).
 					Obj()
-				workload.SetQuotaReservation(wl, admission, realClock)
+				workload.SetQuotaReservation(wl, admission, util.RealClock)
 				wl.Status.Admission = admission
 
 				g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, wl)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
@@ -1213,7 +1210,7 @@ var _ = ginkgo.Describe("Workload validating webhook", ginkgo.Ordered, func() {
 						Count(10).
 						Obj()).
 					Obj()
-				workload.SetQuotaReservation(wl, admission, realClock)
+				workload.SetQuotaReservation(wl, admission, util.RealClock)
 				wl.Status.Admission = admission
 
 				g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, wl)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
diff --git a/test/performance/scheduler/runner/controller/controller.go b/test/performance/scheduler/runner/controller/controller.go
index 4fefd877d..e8a4827a4 100644
--- a/test/performance/scheduler/runner/controller/controller.go
+++ b/test/performance/scheduler/runner/controller/controller.go
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kueue/pkg/workload"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kueue/test/performance/scheduler/runner/generator"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kueue/test/performance/scheduler/runner/recorder"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kueue/test/util"
 )
 
 type reconciler struct {
@@ -52,10 +53,6 @@ type reconciler struct {
 	clock         clock.Clock
 }
 
-var (
-	realClock = clock.RealClock{}
-)
-
 func (r *reconciler) getAdmittedTime(uid types.UID) (time.Time, bool) {
 	r.atLock.RLock()
 	defer r.atLock.RUnlock()
@@ -178,7 +175,7 @@ type options struct {
 type Option func(*options)
 
 var defaultOptions = options{
-	clock: realClock,
+	clock: util.RealClock,
 }
 
 func WithClock(_ testing.TB, c clock.Clock) Option {
diff --git a/test/util/constants.go b/test/util/constants.go
index f7519d9cf..889937604 100644
--- a/test/util/constants.go
+++ b/test/util/constants.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	appsv1 "k8s.io/api/apps/v1"
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -82,3 +83,5 @@ var (
 	// The agnhost container will print args passed and `exit 0`
 	BehaviorExitFast = []string{"entrypoint-tester"}
 )
+
+var RealClock = clock.RealClock{}
diff --git a/test/util/util.go b/test/util/util.go
index 68ab01fb0..981eeb10d 100644
--- a/test/util/util.go
+++ b/test/util/util.go
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/remotecommand"
 	"k8s.io/component-base/metrics/testutil"
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	testingclock "k8s.io/utils/clock/testing"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
@@ -428,7 +427,7 @@ func SetRequeuedConditionWithPodsReadyTimeout(ctx context.Context, k8sClient cli
 	gomega.EventuallyWithOffset(1, func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 		var wl kueue.Workload
 		g.Expect(k8sClient.Get(ctx, wlKey, &wl)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
-		g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, &wl, clock.RealClock{}, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+		g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, &wl, RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
 			return &wl, workload.SetRequeuedCondition(&wl, kueue.WorkloadEvictedByPodsReadyTimeout, fmt.Sprintf("Exceeded the PodsReady timeout %s", klog.KObj(&wl).String()), false), nil
 		})).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 	}, Timeout, Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
@@ -831,7 +830,7 @@ func SyncAdmittedConditionForWorkloads(ctx context.Context, k8sClient client.Cli
 	for _, wl := range wls {
 		gomega.EventuallyWithOffset(1, func(g gomega.Gomega) {
 			g.ExpectWithOffset(1, k8sClient.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(wl), &updatedWorkload)).To(gomega.Succeed())
-			g.ExpectWithOffset(1, workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, &updatedWorkload, clock.RealClock{}, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+			g.ExpectWithOffset(1, workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, &updatedWorkload, RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
 				return &updatedWorkload, workload.SyncAdmittedCondition(&updatedWorkload, time.Now()), nil
 			})).To(gomega.Succeed())
 		}, Timeout, Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
@@ -857,7 +856,7 @@ func FinishEvictionForWorkloads(ctx context.Context, k8sClient client.Client, wl
 			var updatedWorkload kueue.Workload
 			g.Expect(k8sClient.Get(ctx, key, &updatedWorkload)).Should(gomega.Succeed())
 			if apimeta.IsStatusConditionTrue(updatedWorkload.Status.Conditions, kueue.WorkloadQuotaReserved) {
-				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, &updatedWorkload, clock.RealClock{}, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+				g.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, &updatedWorkload, RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
 					return &updatedWorkload, workload.UnsetQuotaReservationWithCondition(&updatedWorkload, "Pending", "By test", time.Now()), nil
 				}),
 				).Should(gomega.Succeed(), fmt.Sprintf("Unable to unset quota reservation for %q", key))
@@ -892,7 +891,7 @@ func SetWorkloadsAdmissionCheck(ctx context.Context, k8sClient client.Client, wl
 			workload.SetAdmissionCheckState(&updatedWorkload.Status.AdmissionChecks, kueue.AdmissionCheckState{
 				Name:  check,
 				State: state,
-			}, clock.RealClock{})
+			}, RealClock)
 		}
 		g.Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, &updatedWorkload)).To(gomega.Succeed())
 	}, Timeout, Interval).Should(gomega.Succeed())
diff --git a/test/util/util_scheduling.go b/test/util/util_scheduling.go
index 3c6bc7f61..2ab6ea68b 100644
--- a/test/util/util_scheduling.go
+++ b/test/util/util_scheduling.go
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
-	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
 	kueue "sigs.k8s.io/kueue/apis/kueue/v1beta2"
@@ -46,7 +45,6 @@ func FinishRunningWorkloadsInCQ(ctx context.Context, k8sClient client.Client, cq
 }
 
 func finishEvictionsOfAnyWorkloadsInCq(ctx context.Context, k8sClient client.Client, cq *kueue.ClusterQueue) sets.Set[types.UID] {
-	var realClock = clock.RealClock{}
 	finished := sets.New[types.UID]()
 	var wList kueue.WorkloadList
 	gomega.Expect(k8sClient.List(ctx, &wList)).To(gomega.Succeed())
@@ -57,7 +55,7 @@ func finishEvictionsOfAnyWorkloadsInCq(ctx context.Context, k8sClient client.Cli
 		evicted := meta.IsStatusConditionTrue(wl.Status.Conditions, kueue.WorkloadEvicted)
 		quotaReserved := meta.IsStatusConditionTrue(wl.Status.Conditions, kueue.WorkloadQuotaReserved)
 		if evicted && quotaReserved {
-			gomega.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, &wl, realClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
+			gomega.Expect(workload.PatchAdmissionStatus(ctx, k8sClient, &wl, RealClock, func() (*kueue.Workload, bool, error) {
 				return &wl, workload.UnsetQuotaReservationWithCondition(&wl, "Pending", "Eviction finished by test", time.Now()), nil
 			}),
 			).To(gomega.Succeed())