diff --git a/contentcuration/automation/utils/appnexus/base.py b/contentcuration/automation/utils/appnexus/base.py
index c242593feb..d39ec7f15c 100644
--- a/contentcuration/automation/utils/appnexus/base.py
+++ b/contentcuration/automation/utils/appnexus/base.py
@@ -190,6 +190,35 @@ def create_backend(self) -> Backend:
         pass
 
 
+class CompositeBackend:
+    def __init__(self, backend, prefixes):
+        self.backend = backend
+        self.prefixes = prefixes
+        self._connected = False
+
+    def connect(self, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Loops through a list of prefixes in order to establish
+        which backend is available to connect.
+
+        """
+        for prefix in self.prefixes:
+            self.backend.url_prefix = prefix
+            if self.backend.connect():
+                self._connected = True
+                return True
+        raise AssertionError(
+            f"Could not connect to any backend in list: {self.prefixes}"
+        )
+
+    def make_request(self, request):
+        if self._connected:
+            return self.backend.make_request(request)
+        else:
+            self.connect()
+            return self.backend.make_request(request)
+
+
 class Adapter:
     """
     Base class for adapters that interact with a backend interface.
diff --git a/contentcuration/contentcuration/tests/utils/test_recommendations.py b/contentcuration/contentcuration/tests/utils/test_recommendations.py
index c64e6ef489..4c90e55033 100644
--- a/contentcuration/contentcuration/tests/utils/test_recommendations.py
+++ b/contentcuration/contentcuration/tests/utils/test_recommendations.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from automation.models import RecommendationsCache
 from automation.utils.appnexus import errors
 from automation.utils.appnexus.base import BackendResponse
+from automation.utils.appnexus.base import CompositeBackend
 from django.test import TestCase
 from kolibri_public.models import ContentNode as PublicContentNode
 from mock import MagicMock
@@ -550,6 +551,8 @@ def test_prepare_url_with_none(self):
 
     @patch("contentcuration.utils.recommendations.settings")
     def test_create_backend_with_url_no_scheme(self, mock_settings):
+        mock_settings.SITE_ID = "production"
+        mock_settings.PRODUCTION_SITE_ID = "production"
         mock_settings.CURRICULUM_AUTOMATION_API_URL = "api.example.com"
         backend = self.factory.create_backend()
 
@@ -559,6 +562,8 @@ def test_create_backend_with_url_no_scheme(self, mock_settings):
 
     @patch("contentcuration.utils.recommendations.settings")
     def test_create_backend_with_url_with_scheme(self, mock_settings):
+        mock_settings.SITE_ID = "production"
+        mock_settings.PRODUCTION_SITE_ID = "production"
         mock_settings.CURRICULUM_AUTOMATION_API_URL = "https://api.example.com"
         backend = self.factory.create_backend()
 
@@ -568,6 +573,8 @@ def test_create_backend_with_url_with_scheme(self, mock_settings):
 
     @patch("contentcuration.utils.recommendations.settings")
     def test_create_backend_with_empty_url(self, mock_settings):
+        mock_settings.SITE_ID = "production"
+        mock_settings.PRODUCTION_SITE_ID = "production"
         mock_settings.CURRICULUM_AUTOMATION_API_URL = ""
         backend = self.factory.create_backend()
 
@@ -577,9 +584,21 @@ def test_create_backend_with_empty_url(self, mock_settings):
 
     @patch("contentcuration.utils.recommendations.settings")
     def test_create_backend_with_no_url(self, mock_settings):
+        mock_settings.SITE_ID = "production"
+        mock_settings.PRODUCTION_SITE_ID = "production"
         mock_settings.CURRICULUM_AUTOMATION_API_URL = None
         backend = self.factory.create_backend()
 
         self.assertIsInstance(backend, Recommendations)
         self.assertEqual(backend.base_url, None)
         self.assertEqual(backend.connect_endpoint, "/connect")
+
+    @patch("contentcuration.utils.recommendations.settings")
+    def test_create_backend_to_unstable_url(self, mock_settings):
+        mock_settings.CURRICULUM_AUTOMATION_API_URL = "http://api.example.com:8080"
+        mock_settings.SITE_ID = "unstable"
+        mock_settings.PRODUCTION_SITE_ID = "production"
+
+        backend = self.factory.create_backend()
+        self.assertIsInstance(backend, CompositeBackend)
+        self.assertEqual(backend.prefixes, ["unstable", "stable"])
diff --git a/contentcuration/contentcuration/utils/recommendations.py b/contentcuration/contentcuration/utils/recommendations.py
index f24e88fe9f..c0559e8009 100644
--- a/contentcuration/contentcuration/utils/recommendations.py
+++ b/contentcuration/contentcuration/utils/recommendations.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 from automation.utils.appnexus.base import BackendFactory
 from automation.utils.appnexus.base import BackendRequest
 from automation.utils.appnexus.base import BackendResponse
+from automation.utils.appnexus.base import CompositeBackend
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.db.models import Exists
 from django.db.models import F
@@ -108,10 +109,17 @@ def _prepare_url(self, url):
         )
 
     def create_backend(self) -> Backend:
-        backend = Recommendations()
-        backend.base_url = self._prepare_url(settings.CURRICULUM_AUTOMATION_API_URL)
-        backend.connect_endpoint = "/connect"
-        return backend
+        if settings.SITE_ID == settings.PRODUCTION_SITE_ID:
+            backend = Recommendations()
+            backend.base_url = self._prepare_url(settings.CURRICULUM_AUTOMATION_API_URL)
+            backend.connect_endpoint = "/connect"
+            return backend
+        else:
+            backend = Recommendations()
+            backend.base_url = self._prepare_url(settings.CURRICULUM_AUTOMATION_API_URL)
+            backend.connect_endpoint = "/connect"
+
+            return CompositeBackend(backend, ["unstable", "stable"])
 
 
 class RecommendationsAdapter(Adapter):