diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 5290d93abd0..a0532bdc7aa 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -3,21 +3,22 @@ include:
   - local: ".gitlab/benchmarks.yml"
   - local: ".gitlab/exploration-tests.yml"
   - local: ".gitlab/ci-visibility-tests.yml"
+  # TODO: revert all refs to 'main' after apm-sdks-benchmarks PR merges
   - project: 'DataDog/apm-reliability/apm-sdks-benchmarks'
     file: '.gitlab/ci-java-spring-petclinic-parallel.yml'
-    ref: 'main'
+    ref: 'sarahchen6/bring-back-comparisons'
   - project: 'DataDog/apm-reliability/apm-sdks-benchmarks'
     file: '.gitlab/ci-java-load-parallel.yml'
-    ref: 'main'
+    ref: 'sarahchen6/bring-back-comparisons'
   - project: 'DataDog/apm-reliability/apm-sdks-benchmarks'
     file: '.gitlab/ci-java-startup-parallel.yml'
-    ref: 'main'
+    ref: 'sarahchen6/bring-back-comparisons'
   - project: 'DataDog/apm-reliability/apm-sdks-benchmarks'
     file: '.gitlab/ci-java-dacapo-parallel.yml'
-    ref: 'main'
+    ref: 'sarahchen6/bring-back-comparisons'
   - project: 'DataDog/apm-reliability/apm-sdks-benchmarks'
     file: '.gitlab/ci-java-post-pr-comment.yml'
-    ref: 'main'
+    ref: 'sarahchen6/bring-back-comparisons'
   - local: ".gitlab/java-benchmark-configs.yml"
 
 stages:
diff --git a/.gitlab/java-benchmark-configs.yml b/.gitlab/java-benchmark-configs.yml
index b984847c6a0..0f8a0cf89ac 100644
--- a/.gitlab/java-benchmark-configs.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/java-benchmark-configs.yml
@@ -38,30 +38,58 @@
     interruptible: true
     allow_failure: true
 
+# TODO: remove APM_SDKS_BENCHMARKS_BRANCH overrides after apm-sdks-benchmarks PR merges.
+# Job-level variables override the template default ("main") which otherwise takes
+# precedence over the pipeline-level variable.
+.benchmark_branch_override: &benchmark_branch_override
+  APM_SDKS_BENCHMARKS_BRANCH: "sarahchen6/bring-back-comparisons"
+
 # Ensure the tracer artifact publish finishes before the benchmark jobs start.
 linux-java-spring-petclinic-parallel:
   needs: ["publish-artifacts-to-s3"]
+  variables:
+    <<: *benchmark_branch_override
 
 linux-java-insecure-bank-load-parallel:
   needs: ["publish-artifacts-to-s3"]
   rules: *parallel_benchmark_rules
+  variables:
+    <<: *benchmark_branch_override
 
 linux-java-spring-petclinic-load-parallel:
   needs: ["publish-artifacts-to-s3"]
   rules: *parallel_benchmark_rules
+  variables:
+    <<: *benchmark_branch_override
 
 linux-java-insecure-bank-startup-parallel:
   needs: ["publish-artifacts-to-s3"]
   rules: *parallel_startup_benchmark_rules
+  variables:
+    <<: *benchmark_branch_override
 
 linux-java-spring-petclinic-startup-parallel:
   needs: ["publish-artifacts-to-s3"]
   rules: *parallel_startup_benchmark_rules
+  variables:
+    <<: *benchmark_branch_override
 
 linux-java-dacapo-parallel-1:
   needs: ["publish-artifacts-to-s3"]
   rules: *parallel_benchmark_rules
+  variables:
+    <<: *benchmark_branch_override
 
 linux-java-dacapo-parallel-2:
   needs: ["publish-artifacts-to-s3"]
   rules: *parallel_benchmark_rules
+  variables:
+    <<: *benchmark_branch_override
+
+java-post-pr-comment-startup:
+  variables:
+    <<: *benchmark_branch_override
+
+java-post-pr-comment-load-dacapo:
+  variables:
+    <<: *benchmark_branch_override