diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/add-new-service.yml b/.gitea/workflows/add-new-service.yml
index edd35a1..3c3af1a 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/add-new-service.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/add-new-service.yml
@@ -26,5 +26,5 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           ansible-playbook ansible/playbooks/add-new-service.yml \
             -i ansible/hosts.yml \
-            --extra-vars="agebd_env=dev service_dir_name=${{ steps.parse_branch.outputs.service_name }}" \
+            --extra-vars="repo_root=${{ github.workspace }} agebd_env=dev service_dir_name=${{ steps.parse_branch.outputs.service_name }}" \
             -v
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ansible/playbooks/add-new-service.yml b/ansible/playbooks/add-new-service.yml
index 6b50a06..ae79b00 100644
--- a/ansible/playbooks/add-new-service.yml
+++ b/ansible/playbooks/add-new-service.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@
   import_playbook: ../plays/ioc/ioc-restart.yml
 
 - name: Deploy and Restart Master Service
+  vars:
+    ioc_service_name: 000-master
+    branch_name: "feature/add-service-{{ new_service_dir_name }}"
   import_playbook: ../plays/service/service-deploy-and-restart-master.yml
 
 # - name: Install and Restart New IOC
diff --git a/ansible/plays/service/service-deploy-and-restart.yml b/ansible/plays/service/service-deploy-and-restart.yml
index 55ba3d9..1351435 100644
--- a/ansible/plays/service/service-deploy-and-restart.yml
+++ b/ansible/plays/service/service-deploy-and-restart.yml
@@ -3,8 +3,21 @@
   hosts: sls-vserv-bd-hla01-dev
   # connection: local
   gather_facts: false
+  
+  vars:
+    workspace_dir: "/tmp/hla_framework_bd"
 
   tasks:
+    # TODO: can remove when running on runner
+    - name: Clone this repository
+      ansible.builtin.git:
+        repo: "git@gitea.psi.ch:sls/hla_framework_bd.git"
+        dest: "{{ workspace_dir }}"
+        version: main
+        accept_hostkey: true
+        version: "{{ branch_name }}"
+        force: true
+
     - name: Initialize isolated service directory name
       ansible.builtin.set_fact:
         # Uses ioc_service_name if defined in vars, otherwise falls back to the CLI extra-vars
@@ -18,15 +31,19 @@
         service_unit_name: "AGEBD-SERVICE-{{ service_dir_name[4:] | upper }}.service"
 
     - name: "[{{ service_dir_name }}] Ensure target directory structure exists"
-      ansible.builtin.file:
-        path: "{{ svc_current_dir }}"
-        state: directory
+      # ansible.builtin.file:
+      #   path: "{{ svc_current_dir }}"
+      #   state: directory
+      ansible.builtin.shell: |
+        mkdir -p "{{ svc_current_dir }}"
 
     - name: "[{{ service_dir_name }}] Sync service deployment files"
-      ansible.builtin.copy:
-        src: "{{ playbook_dir }}/../../../services/{{ service_dir_name }}/current/"
-        dest: "{{ svc_current_dir }}/"
-        mode: 'preserve'
+      # ansible.builtin.copy:
+      #   src: "{{ playbook_dir }}/../../../services/{{ service_dir_name }}/current/"
+      #   dest: "{{ svc_current_dir }}/"
+      #   mode: 'preserve'
+      ansible.builtin.shell: |
+        copy -r "{{ repo_root }}/services/{{ service_dir_name }}/current/" "{{ svc_current_dir }}"
 
     - name: "[{{ service_dir_name }}] Substitute environment variable inline"
       ansible.builtin.replace:
diff --git a/docs/ansible.md b/docs/ansible.md
index 7a1e4e8..df3ffd8 100644
--- a/docs/ansible.md
+++ b/docs/ansible.md
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@ Set vars on command line:
 cd ansible
 ansible-playbook ansible/playbooks/add-new-service.yml \
             -i ansible/hosts.yml \
-            --extra-vars="agebd_env=dev new_service_dir_name=<service dir name>" \
+            --extra-vars=""repo_root=${{ github.workspace }} agebd_env=dev new_service_dir_name=<service dir name>" \
             -v
 ```
\ No newline at end of file