diff --git a/.github/workflows/nightly-trigger.yml b/.github/workflows/nightly-trigger.yml
index 352a0d1d5cca15..762f9a40fa5a43 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/nightly-trigger.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/nightly-trigger.yml
@@ -47,7 +47,11 @@ jobs:
           
           # each release branch should run every 3rd day to reduce load on the Apache Infra runners
           release_branch="no branch"
-          release_branch="${{ steps.release_branch_extraction_step.outputs.penultimate_release }}"
+          if [[ "$(( $day_of_year % 3))" -eq 1 ]]; then
+            release_branch="${{ steps.release_branch_extraction_step.outputs.newest_release }}"
+          else if [[ "$(( $day_of_year % 3))" -eq 2 ]]; then
+            release_branch="${{ steps.release_branch_extraction_step.outputs.penultimate_release }}"
+          fi
 
       - name: "Trigger master nightly"
         uses: actions/github-script@v7