diff --git a/templates/sast.yml b/templates/sast.yml
index 01786b5..d937e76 100644
--- a/templates/sast.yml
+++ b/templates/sast.yml
@@ -21,29 +21,15 @@ spec:
       type: boolean
     include_experimental:
       default: 'false'
+    enable_mr_pipelines:
+      default: false
+      type: boolean
     ff_glas_enable_php_support:
       default: true
       type: boolean
-    use_precompiled_artifacts:
-      description: Identifies whether pre-compiled artifacts will be provided or if compilation is required.
-      default: false
-      type: boolean
-    sast_dependencies:
-      description: The dependant jobs to wait for before running SAST jobs.
-      default: []
-      type: array
-    runner_tags:
-      description: The tags to apply to SAST jobs so they can be picked up by an appropriate GitLab runner
-      default: []
-      type: array
-    sast_java_version:
-      description: The Java version used by the SAST analyzer
-      default: 21
-      type: integer
 ---
 .sast-analyzer:
   stage: $[[ inputs.stage ]]
-  tags: $[[ inputs.runner_tags ]]
   allow_failure: true
   # these variables are used by the analyzer
   # TODO: propagate inputs when breaking down into separate components
@@ -52,9 +38,6 @@ spec:
     SEARCH_MAX_DEPTH: $[[ inputs.search_max_depth ]]
     DEFAULT_SAST_EXCLUDED_PATHS: $[[ inputs.excluded_paths ]]
     SAST_EXCLUDED_PATHS: "$DEFAULT_SAST_EXCLUDED_PATHS"
-    COMPILE: $[[ inputs.use_precompiled_artifacts ]]
-    SAST_JAVA_VERSION: $[[ inputs.sast_java_version | expand_vars ]]
-  dependencies: $[[ inputs.sast_dependencies ]]
   script:
     - /analyzer run
   artifacts:
@@ -142,6 +125,10 @@ spec:
     - '**/application*.yaml'
     - '**/bootstrap*.yaml'
 
+.pmd-apex-exist-rules:
+  exists:
+    - '**/*.cls'
+
 gitlab-advanced-sast:
   extends: .sast-analyzer
   image:
@@ -161,9 +148,6 @@ gitlab-advanced-sast:
       when: never
     - if: '"$[[ inputs.run_advanced_sast ]]" != "true"'
       when: never
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event" &&
-          $GITLAB_FEATURES =~ /\bsast_advanced\b/
-      exists: !reference [.gitlab-advanced-sast-exist-rules, exists]
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH &&
           $GITLAB_FEATURES =~ /\bsast_advanced\b/
       exists: !reference [.gitlab-advanced-sast-exist-rules, exists]
@@ -181,7 +165,6 @@ kubesec-sast:
   rules:
     - if: '"$[[ inputs.excluded_analyzers ]]" =~ /kubesec/'
       when: never
-    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event" && "$[[ inputs.run_kubesec_sast ]]" == "true"'
     - if: '$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH && "$[[ inputs.run_kubesec_sast ]]" == "true"'
 
 mobsf-android-sast:
@@ -203,9 +186,23 @@ pmd-apex-sast:
   rules:
     - if: '"$[[ inputs.excluded_analyzers ]]" =~ /pmd-apex/'
       when: never
+    
+    # The following 3 blocks of rules define whether the job runs in a an *MR pipeline* or a *branch pipeline*
+    # when an MR exists. If the job has additional rules to observe they should be added in the blocks 1 and 3
+    # to cover both the *MR pipeline* and the *branch pipeline* workflows.
+
+    # 1. Run the job in an *MR* pipeline if MR pipelines for AST are enabled and there's an open merge request.
+    - if: '"$[[ inputs.enable_mr_pipelines ]]" == "true" &&
+          $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"'
+      exists: !reference [.pmd-apex-exist-rules, exists]
+
+   # 2. Don't run the job in a *branch pipeline* if *MR pipelines* for AST are enabled and there's an open merge request.
+    - if: '"$[[ inputs.enable_mr_pipelines ]]" == "true" &&
+          $CI_OPEN_MERGE_REQUESTS'
+      when: never
+    # 3. Finally, run the job in a *branch pipeline* (When MR pipelines are disabled for AST, or it is enabled but no open MRs exist for the branch).
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH
-      exists:
-        - '**/*.cls'
+      exists: !reference [.pmd-apex-exist-rules, exists]
 
 security-code-scan-sast:
   extends: .sast-analyzer
@@ -249,9 +246,7 @@ semgrep-sast:
           "$[[ inputs.excluded_analyzers ]]" !~ /gitlab-advanced-sast/ &&
           "$[[ inputs.run_advanced_sast ]]" == "true"'
       when: never
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"
-      exists: !reference [.semgrep-exist-rules, exists]
-      # Default case - run for all supported files
+    # Default case - run for all supported files
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH
       exists: !reference [.semgrep-exist-rules, exists]
 
@@ -277,7 +272,6 @@ spotbugs-sast:
       exists:
         - '**/AndroidManifest.xml'
       when: never
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH
       exists:
         - '**/*.groovy'