A method, implemented at least in part by a database system node comprising a processing unit and memory , the database system node being one of a plurality of database system nodes and being in communication with at least a portion of the plurality of database system nodes and with a database client , at least one of the plurality of database system nodes being a source node and at least one of the plurality of database system nodes being a replica node , the method comprising: determining that an availability status of the replica node has changed; receiving a prepared statement from the database client , the prepared statement specifying one or more nodes useable to execute the prepared statement ; updating the prepared statement , the updating comprising adding a node to the one or more nodes in the prepared statement , or removing at least one of the one or more nodes in the prepared statement , depending on the type of availability status change of the replica node ; and sending the updated prepared statement to the database client ; characterized in that the method further comprises: in response to determining that the availability status of the replica node has changed, incrementing an identifier maintained by the database system node; comparing the incremented identifier with a version timestamp associated with the prepared statement ; and determining that the version timestamp identifier is associated with an earlier state of the database system than a state of the database system associated with the incremented identifier ; wherein the updating is carried out in response to determining that the version timestamp identifier is associated with an earlier state of the database system . determining that an availability status of the replica node has changed; receiving a prepared statement from the database client , the prepared statement specifying one or more nodes useable to execute the prepared statement ; updating the prepared statement , the updating comprising adding a node to the one or more nodes in the prepared statement , or removing at least one of the one or more nodes in the prepared statement , depending on the type of availability status change of the replica node ; and sending the updated prepared statement to the database client ; characterized in that the method further comprises: in response to determining that the availability status of the replica node has changed, incrementing an identifier maintained by the database system node; comparing the incremented identifier with a version timestamp associated with the prepared statement ; and determining that the version timestamp identifier is associated with an earlier state of the database system than a state of the database system associated with the incremented identifier ; wherein the updating is carried out in response to determining that the version timestamp identifier is associated with an earlier state of the database system . in response to determining that the availability status of the replica node has changed, incrementing an identifier maintained by the database system node; comparing the incremented identifier with a version timestamp associated with the prepared statement ; and determining that the version timestamp identifier is associated with an earlier state of the database system than a state of the database system associated with the incremented identifier ; wherein the updating is carried out in response to determining that the version timestamp identifier is associated with an earlier state of the database system . <EOS>