diff --git a/.github/workflows/plugins.yml b/.github/workflows/plugins.yml
index c780d3d2cca..990f9d20376 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/plugins.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/plugins.yml
@@ -935,17 +935,20 @@ jobs:
 
   # TODO: fix performance issues and test more Node versions
   next:
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        version: [18, latest] # note that 18 is currently "oldest". change when necessary.
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     env:
       PLUGINS: next
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: ./.github/actions/testagent/start
-      - uses: ./.github/actions/node/setup
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v3
+        with:
+          cache: yarn
+          node-version: ${{ matrix.version }}
       - run: yarn install
-      - uses: ./.github/actions/node/oldest
-      - run: yarn test:plugins:ci
-      - uses: ./.github/actions/node/latest
       - run: yarn test:plugins:ci
       - if: always()
         uses: ./.github/actions/testagent/logs