diff --git a/craft_application/models/spread.py b/craft_application/models/spread.py
index 7fc3efaff..1e6640075 100644
--- a/craft_application/models/spread.py
+++ b/craft_application/models/spread.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ class CraftSpreadSystem(SpreadBase):
     """Simplified spread system configuration."""
 
     workers: int | None = None
+    image: str | None = None
 
 
 class CraftSpreadBackend(SpreadBase):
@@ -116,12 +117,15 @@ class SpreadSystem(SpreadBaseModel):
     username: str | None = None
     password: str | None = None
     workers: int | None = None
+    image: str | None = None
 
     @classmethod
-    def from_craft(cls, simple: CraftSpreadSystem | None) -> Self:
+    def from_craft(
+        cls, simple: CraftSpreadSystem | None, image: str | None = None
+    ) -> Self:
         """Create a spread system configuration from the simplified version."""
         workers = simple.workers if simple else 1
-        return cls(workers=workers)
+        return cls(workers=workers, image=image)
 
 
 class SpreadBackend(SpreadBaseModel):
@@ -140,14 +144,22 @@ class SpreadBackend(SpreadBaseModel):
     restore_each: str | None = None
     debug_each: str | None = None
 
+    # For the openstack backend
+    endpoint: str | None = None
+    account: str | None = None
+    key: str | None = None
+    location: str | None = None
+    plan: str | None = None
+    halt_timeout: str | None = None
+
     @classmethod
-    def from_craft(cls, simple: CraftSpreadBackend) -> Self:
+    def from_craft(cls, simple: CraftSpreadBackend, images: dict[str, str]) -> Self:
         """Create a spread backend configuration from the simplified version."""
         return cls(
             type=simple.type,
             allocate=simple.allocate,
             discard=simple.discard,
-            systems=cls.systems_from_craft(simple.systems),
+            systems=cls.systems_from_craft(simple.systems, images=images),
             prepare=simple.prepare,
             restore=simple.restore,
             debug=simple.debug,
@@ -158,17 +170,27 @@ def from_craft(cls, simple: CraftSpreadBackend) -> Self:
 
     @staticmethod
     def systems_from_craft(
-        simple: list[str | dict[str, CraftSpreadSystem | None]],
+        simple: list[str | dict[str, CraftSpreadSystem | None]], images: dict[str, str]
     ) -> list[str | dict[str, SpreadSystem]]:
         """Create spread systems from the simplified version."""
         systems: list[str | dict[str, SpreadSystem]] = []
         for item in simple:
+            entry: dict[str, SpreadSystem] = {}
             if isinstance(item, str):
-                systems.append(item)
+                image = images.get(item)
+                if image:
+                    entry[item] = SpreadSystem(workers=1, image=image)
+                    systems.append(entry)
+                else:
+                    systems.append(item)
                 continue
-            entry: dict[str, SpreadSystem] = {}
+
             for name, ssys in item.items():
-                entry[name] = SpreadSystem.from_craft(ssys)
+                if ssys:
+                    image = ssys.image if ssys.image else images.get(name)
+                else:
+                    image = images.get(name)
+                entry[name] = SpreadSystem.from_craft(ssys, image=image)
             systems.append(entry)
 
         return systems
@@ -231,6 +253,7 @@ def from_craft(
         craft_backend: SpreadBackend,
         artifact: pathlib.Path,
         resources: dict[str, pathlib.Path],
+        images: dict[str, str],
     ) -> Self:
         """Create the spread configuration from the simplified version."""
         environment = {
@@ -249,7 +272,7 @@ def from_craft(
         return cls(
             project="craft-test",
             environment=environment,
-            backends=cls._backends_from_craft(simple.backends, craft_backend),
+            backends=cls._backends_from_craft(simple.backends, craft_backend, images),
             suites=cls._suites_from_craft(simple.suites),
             exclude=simple.exclude or [".git", ".tox"],
             path="/root/proj",
@@ -269,18 +292,20 @@ def _translate_resource_name(name: str) -> str:
 
     @staticmethod
     def _backends_from_craft(
-        simple: dict[str, CraftSpreadBackend], craft_backend: SpreadBackend
+        simple: dict[str, CraftSpreadBackend],
+        craft_backend: SpreadBackend,
+        images: dict[str, str],
     ) -> dict[str, SpreadBackend]:
         backends: dict[str, SpreadBackend] = {}
         for name, backend in simple.items():
             # Spread assumes the backend name as the type when it's not explicitly declared.
             if name == "craft" and (not backend.type or backend.type == "craft"):
                 craft_backend.systems = SpreadBackend.systems_from_craft(
-                    backend.systems
+                    backend.systems, images=images
                 )
                 backends[name] = craft_backend
             else:
-                backends[name] = SpreadBackend.from_craft(backend)
+                backends[name] = SpreadBackend.from_craft(backend, images={})
 
         return backends
 
diff --git a/craft_application/services/testing.py b/craft_application/services/testing.py
index 18515b65d..18062e8fe 100644
--- a/craft_application/services/testing.py
+++ b/craft_application/services/testing.py
@@ -32,6 +32,14 @@
 
 from . import base
 
+_SYSTEM_IMAGES = {
+    "lp-test": {
+        "ubuntu-20.04": "ubuntu-focal-daily-amd64",
+        "ubuntu-22.04": "ubuntu-jammy-daily-amd64",
+        "ubuntu-24.04": "ubuntu-noble-daily-amd64",
+    },
+}
+
 
 class TestingService(base.AppService):
     """Service class for testing a project."""
@@ -94,8 +102,6 @@ def process_spread_yaml(
                 retcode=os.EX_CONFIG,
             )
 
-        craft_backend = self._get_backend()
-
         if not pack_state.artifact:
             raise CraftError(
                 f"No {self._app.artifact_type} files to test.",
@@ -107,11 +113,16 @@ def process_spread_yaml(
 
         simple = models.CraftSpreadYaml.unmarshal(data)
 
+        backend_type = self._get_backend_type()
+        craft_backend = self._get_backend(backend_type)
+        images = _SYSTEM_IMAGES.get(backend_type) or {}
+
         spread_yaml = models.SpreadYaml.from_craft(
             simple,
             craft_backend=craft_backend,
             artifact=pack_state.artifact,
             resources=pack_state.resources or {},
+            images=images,
         )
 
         emit.trace(f"Writing processed spread file to {dest}")
@@ -208,8 +219,8 @@ def run_spread(
         is_interactive = shell or shell_after or debug
 
         try:
+            # Don't pipe output into stream if spread runs in interactive
             if is_interactive:
-                # Don't pipe output into stream if spread runs in interactive
                 # mode. This allows spread to run with proper terminal management
                 # until we implement a protocol to pause the emitter and handle
                 # terminal input and output inside an open_stream context. See
@@ -234,7 +245,13 @@ def run_spread(
             )
 
     def _get_backend_type(self) -> str:
-        return "ci" if os.environ.get("CI") else "lxd-vm"
+        if os.environ.get("LP_TEST_ACCOUNT"):
+            return "lp-test"
+
+        if os.environ.get("CI"):
+            return "ci"
+
+        return "lxd-vm"
 
     def _running_on_ci(self) -> bool:
         return self._get_backend_type() == "ci"
@@ -253,21 +270,30 @@ def _get_ci_system(self) -> str:
 
         return system
 
-    def _get_backend(self) -> models.SpreadBackend:
-        name = self._get_backend_type()
-
-        return models.SpreadBackend(
+    def _get_backend(self, name: str) -> models.SpreadBackend:
+        backend = models.SpreadBackend(
             type="adhoc",
-            # Allocate and discard occur on the host.
-            allocate=f"ADDRESS $(./spread/.extension allocate {name})",
-            discard=f"./spread/.extension discard {name}",
-            # Each of these occur within the spread runner.
             prepare=f'"$PROJECT_PATH"/spread/.extension backend-prepare {name}',
             restore=f'"$PROJECT_PATH"/spread/.extension backend-restore {name}',
             prepare_each=f'"$PROJECT_PATH"/spread/.extension backend-prepare-each {name}',
             restore_each=f'"$PROJECT_PATH"/spread/.extension backend-restore-each {name}',
         )
 
+        if name == "lp-test":
+            backend.type = "openstack"
+            backend.endpoint = "https://lp-test-endpoint:5000/v3"
+            backend.account = os.getenv("LP_TEST_ACCOUNT")
+            backend.key = os.getenv("LP_TEST_KEY")
+            backend.location = "lp-test-project/lp-test-region"
+            backend.plan = "cpu4-ram8-disk10"
+            backend.halt_timeout = "4h"
+        else:
+            backend.type = "adhoc"
+            backend.allocate = f"ADDRESS $(./spread/.extension allocate {name})"
+            backend.discard = f"./spread/.extension discard {name}"
+
+        return backend
+
     def _get_spread_executable(self) -> str:
         """Get the executable to run for spread.
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/models/test_spread.py b/tests/unit/models/test_spread.py
index 84ca0e562..904df13a9 100644
--- a/tests/unit/models/test_spread.py
+++ b/tests/unit/models/test_spread.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
     ],
 )
 def test_systems_from_craft(systems, expected):
-    assert model.SpreadBackend.systems_from_craft(systems) == expected
+    assert model.SpreadBackend.systems_from_craft(systems, {}) == expected
 
 
 _CRAFT_SPREAD = """
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ def test_spread_yaml_from_craft_spread():
         craft_backend=backend,
         artifact=pathlib.Path("artifact"),
         resources={"my-resource": pathlib.Path("resource")},
+        images={},
     )
 
     assert (
@@ -186,6 +187,107 @@ def test_spread_yaml_from_craft_spread():
     )
 
 
+def test_spread_yaml_from_lp_test_craft_spread():
+    backend = model.SpreadBackend(
+        type="openstack",
+        allocate="allocate",
+        discard="discard",
+        prepare="prepare",
+        restore="restore",
+        prepare_each="prepare_each",
+        restore_each="restore each",
+        endpoint="https://lp-test-endpoint:5000/v3",
+        account="lp-test-account",
+        key="lp-test-key",
+        location="lp-test-project/lp-test-region",
+        plan="cpu2-ram4-disk10",
+        halt_timeout="1h",
+    )
+    data = util.safe_yaml_load(io.StringIO(_CRAFT_SPREAD))
+    craft_spread = model.CraftSpreadYaml.unmarshal(data)
+
+    spread = model.SpreadYaml.from_craft(
+        craft_spread,
+        craft_backend=backend,
+        artifact=pathlib.Path("artifact"),
+        resources={"my-resource": pathlib.Path("resource")},
+        images={"ubuntu-24.04": "jammy-image"},
+    )
+
+    assert (
+        spread.marshal()
+        == model.SpreadYaml(
+            project="craft-test",
+            environment={
+                "SUDO_USER": "",
+                "SUDO_UID": "",
+                "LANG": "C.UTF-8",
+                "LANGUAGE": "en",
+                "PROJECT_PATH": "/root/proj",
+                "CRAFT_ARTIFACT": "$PROJECT_PATH/artifact",
+                "CRAFT_RESOURCE_MY_RESOURCE": "$PROJECT_PATH/resource",
+            },
+            backends={
+                "craft": model.SpreadBackend(
+                    type="openstack",
+                    allocate="allocate",
+                    discard="discard",
+                    systems=[
+                        {
+                            "ubuntu-24.04": model.SpreadSystem(
+                                workers=1, image="jammy-image"
+                            )
+                        }
+                    ],
+                    prepare="prepare",
+                    restore="restore",
+                    prepare_each="prepare_each",
+                    restore_each="restore each",
+                    endpoint="https://lp-test-endpoint:5000/v3",
+                    account="lp-test-account",
+                    key="lp-test-key",
+                    location="lp-test-project/lp-test-region",
+                    plan="cpu2-ram4-disk10",
+                    halt_timeout="1h",
+                ),
+                "other": model.SpreadBackend(
+                    type="adhoc",
+                    systems=[{"ubuntu-24.04": model.SpreadSystem(workers=1)}],
+                    prepare="echo Preparing backend\n",
+                    restore="echo Restoring backend\n",
+                    debug="echo Debugging backend\n",
+                    prepare_each="echo Preparing-each on backend\n",
+                    restore_each="echo Restoring-each on backend\n",
+                    debug_each="echo Debugging-each on backend\n",
+                ),
+            },
+            suites={
+                "spread/general/": model.SpreadSuite(
+                    summary="General integration tests",
+                    systems=[],
+                    environment={"FOO": "bar"},
+                    prepare="snap install $CRAFT_ARTIFACT --dangerous\n",
+                    restore="snap remove my-snap --purge\n",
+                    debug="echo Debugging suite\n",
+                    prepare_each="echo Preparing-each on suite\n",
+                    restore_each="echo Restoring-each on suite\n",
+                    debug_each="echo Debugging-each on suite\n",
+                )
+            },
+            exclude=[".git"],
+            path="/root/proj",
+            kill_timeout="1h",
+            reroot="..",
+            prepare="echo Preparing project\n",
+            restore="echo Restoring project\n",
+            debug="echo Debugging project\n",
+            prepare_each="echo Preparing-each on project\n",
+            restore_each="echo Restoring-each on project\n",
+            debug_each="echo Debugging-each on project\n",
+        ).marshal()
+    )
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     ("name", "var"),
     [
diff --git a/tests/unit/services/test_testing.py b/tests/unit/services/test_testing.py
index bdd1c5722..c535c36cc 100644
--- a/tests/unit/services/test_testing.py
+++ b/tests/unit/services/test_testing.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 import pathlib
 import stat
+import textwrap
 from collections.abc import Iterable
 from typing import Any
 from unittest import mock
@@ -208,6 +209,138 @@ def test_process_without_spread_file(new_dir, testing_service):
         testing_service.process_spread_yaml(new_dir / "wherever", state)
 
 
+def test_process_spread_file(new_dir, monkeypatch, testing_service):
+    monkeypatch.delenv("LP_TEST_ACCOUNT", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.delenv("CI", raising=False)
+
+    pathlib.Path("spread.yaml").write_text(
+        textwrap.dedent(
+            """
+            project: fetch-service
+            backends:
+              craft:
+                type: craft
+                systems:
+                  - ubuntu-24.04:
+                  - ubuntu-22.04
+                  - ubuntu-20.04
+            suites:
+              tests/general/:
+                summary: Just a test
+            """
+        )
+    )
+    state = models.PackState(artifact=pathlib.Path("foo"), resources=None)
+    testing_service.process_spread_yaml(new_dir / "processed", state)
+
+    processed = pathlib.Path("processed").read_text()
+    assert processed == textwrap.dedent(
+        """\
+        project: craft-test
+        environment:
+          SUDO_USER: ''
+          SUDO_UID: ''
+          LANG: C.UTF-8
+          LANGUAGE: en
+          PROJECT_PATH: /root/proj
+          CRAFT_ARTIFACT: $PROJECT_PATH/foo
+        backends:
+          craft:
+            type: adhoc
+            allocate: ADDRESS $(./spread/.extension allocate lxd-vm)
+            discard: ./spread/.extension discard lxd-vm
+            systems:
+            - ubuntu-24.04:
+                workers: 1
+            - ubuntu-22.04
+            - ubuntu-20.04
+            prepare: '"$PROJECT_PATH"/spread/.extension backend-prepare lxd-vm'
+            restore: '"$PROJECT_PATH"/spread/.extension backend-restore lxd-vm'
+            prepare-each: '"$PROJECT_PATH"/spread/.extension backend-prepare-each lxd-vm'
+            restore-each: '"$PROJECT_PATH"/spread/.extension backend-restore-each lxd-vm'
+        suites:
+          tests/general/:
+            summary: Just a test
+            systems: []
+        exclude:
+        - .git
+        - .tox
+        path: /root/proj
+        reroot: ..
+        """
+    )
+
+
+def test_process_lp_test_spread_file(new_dir, monkeypatch, testing_service):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("LP_TEST_ACCOUNT", "lp-test-account")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("LP_TEST_KEY", "lp-test-key")
+    pathlib.Path("spread.yaml").write_text(
+        textwrap.dedent(
+            """
+            project: fetch-service
+            backends:
+              craft:
+                type: craft
+                systems:
+                  - ubuntu-24.04:
+                  - ubuntu-22.04
+                  - ubuntu-20.04
+            suites:
+              tests/general/:
+                summary: Just a test
+            """
+        )
+    )
+    state = models.PackState(artifact=pathlib.Path("foo"), resources=None)
+    testing_service.process_spread_yaml(new_dir / "processed", state)
+
+    processed = pathlib.Path("processed").read_text()
+    assert processed == textwrap.dedent(
+        """\
+        project: craft-test
+        environment:
+          SUDO_USER: ''
+          SUDO_UID: ''
+          LANG: C.UTF-8
+          LANGUAGE: en
+          PROJECT_PATH: /root/proj
+          CRAFT_ARTIFACT: $PROJECT_PATH/foo
+        backends:
+          craft:
+            type: openstack
+            systems:
+            - ubuntu-24.04:
+                workers: 1
+                image: ubuntu-noble-daily-amd64
+            - ubuntu-22.04:
+                workers: 1
+                image: ubuntu-jammy-daily-amd64
+            - ubuntu-20.04:
+                workers: 1
+                image: ubuntu-focal-daily-amd64
+            prepare: '"$PROJECT_PATH"/spread/.extension backend-prepare lp-test'
+            restore: '"$PROJECT_PATH"/spread/.extension backend-restore lp-test'
+            prepare-each: '"$PROJECT_PATH"/spread/.extension backend-prepare-each lp-test'
+            restore-each: '"$PROJECT_PATH"/spread/.extension backend-restore-each lp-test'
+            endpoint: https://lp-test-endpoint:5000/v3
+            account: lp-test-account
+            key: lp-test-key
+            location: lp-test-project/lp-test-region
+            plan: cpu4-ram8-disk10
+            halt-timeout: 4h
+        suites:
+          tests/general/:
+            summary: Just a test
+            systems: []
+        exclude:
+        - .git
+        - .tox
+        path: /root/proj
+        reroot: ..
+        """
+    )
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     ("env_var", "value", "testspec"),
     [("", "", "craft"), ("CI", "1", "craft:id-1.0")],