diff --git a/.chloggen/pods-in-bridge-message.yaml b/.chloggen/pods-in-bridge-message.yaml
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..e0418cc4dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.chloggen/pods-in-bridge-message.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# One of 'breaking', 'deprecation', 'new_component', 'enhancement', 'bug_fix'
+change_type: enhancement
+
+# The name of the component, or a single word describing the area of concern, (e.g. operator, target allocator, github action)
+component: bridge
+
+# A brief description of the change. Surround your text with quotes ("") if it needs to start with a backtick (`).
+note: Sets pods in the component health map
+
+# One or more tracking issues related to the change
+issues: [2489]
+
+# (Optional) One or more lines of additional information to render under the primary note.
+# These lines will be padded with 2 spaces and then inserted directly into the document.
+# Use pipe (|) for multiline entries.
+subtext: this change adds a requirement for a new permission for the bridge to list and get pods.
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 16b5a75663..0f3e4516f6 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -282,6 +282,10 @@ container-push:
 container-target-allocator-push:
 	docker push ${TARGETALLOCATOR_IMG}
 
+.PHONY: container-operator-opamp-bridge-push
+container-operator-opamp-bridge-push:
+	docker push ${OPERATOROPAMPBRIDGE_IMG}
+
 .PHONY: container-target-allocator
 container-target-allocator: GOOS = linux
 container-target-allocator: targetallocator
@@ -333,7 +337,7 @@ endif
 
 
 .PHONY: load-image-operator-opamp-bridge
-load-image-operator-opamp-bridge:
+load-image-operator-opamp-bridge: container-operator-opamp-bridge
 	kind load --name $(KIND_CLUSTER_NAME) docker-image ${OPERATOROPAMPBRIDGE_IMG}
 
 .PHONY: cert-manager
diff --git a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/agent.go b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/agent.go
index e9dc849b16..9282fd5444 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/agent.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/agent.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/yaml"
 
+	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-operator/apis/v1alpha1"
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-operator/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config"
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-operator/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/metrics"
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-operator/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/operator"
@@ -37,7 +39,7 @@ import (
 type Agent struct {
 	logger logr.Logger
 
-	appliedKeys map[collectorKey]bool
+	appliedKeys map[kubeResourceKey]bool
 	clock       clock.Clock
 	startTime   uint64
 	lastHash    []byte
@@ -65,7 +67,7 @@ func NewAgent(logger logr.Logger, applier operator.ConfigApplier, config *config
 		config:              config,
 		applier:             applier,
 		logger:              logger,
-		appliedKeys:         map[collectorKey]bool{},
+		appliedKeys:         map[kubeResourceKey]bool{},
 		instanceId:          config.GetNewInstanceId(),
 		agentDescription:    config.GetDescription(),
 		remoteConfigEnabled: config.RemoteConfigEnabled(),
@@ -85,7 +87,7 @@ func NewAgent(logger logr.Logger, applier operator.ConfigApplier, config *config
 
 // getHealth is called every heartbeat interval to report health.
 func (agent *Agent) getHealth() *protobufs.ComponentHealth {
-	healthMap, err := agent.generateComponentHealthMap()
+	healthMap, err := agent.generateCollectorPoolHealth()
 	if err != nil {
 		return &protobufs.ComponentHealth{
 			Healthy:           false,
@@ -102,20 +104,70 @@ func (agent *Agent) getHealth() *protobufs.ComponentHealth {
 	}
 }
 
-// generateComponentHealthMap allows the bridge to report the status of the collector pools it owns.
-// TODO: implement enhanced health messaging.
-func (agent *Agent) generateComponentHealthMap() (map[string]*protobufs.ComponentHealth, error) {
+// generateCollectorPoolHealth allows the bridge to report the status of the collector pools it owns.
+// TODO: implement enhanced health messaging using the collector's new healthcheck extension:
+// https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/issues/26661
+func (agent *Agent) generateCollectorPoolHealth() (map[string]*protobufs.ComponentHealth, error) {
 	cols, err := agent.applier.ListInstances()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	healthMap := map[string]*protobufs.ComponentHealth{}
 	for _, col := range cols {
-		key := newCollectorKey(col.GetNamespace(), col.GetName())
+		key := newKubeResourceKey(col.GetNamespace(), col.GetName())
+		podMap, err := agent.generateCollectorHealth(agent.getCollectorSelector(col), col.GetNamespace())
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 		healthMap[key.String()] = &protobufs.ComponentHealth{
 			StartTimeUnixNano:  uint64(col.ObjectMeta.GetCreationTimestamp().UnixNano()),
 			StatusTimeUnixNano: uint64(agent.clock.Now().UnixNano()),
 			Status:             col.Status.Scale.StatusReplicas,
+			ComponentHealthMap: podMap,
+		}
+	}
+	return healthMap, nil
+}
+
+// getCollectorSelector destructures the collectors scale selector if present, if uses the labelmap from the operator.
+func (agent *Agent) getCollectorSelector(col v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollector) map[string]string {
+	if len(col.Status.Scale.Selector) > 0 {
+		selMap := map[string]string{}
+		for _, kvPair := range strings.Split(col.Status.Scale.Selector, ",") {
+			kv := strings.Split(kvPair, "=")
+			// skip malformed pairs
+			if len(kv) != 2 {
+				continue
+			}
+			selMap[kv[0]] = kv[1]
+		}
+		return selMap
+	}
+	return map[string]string{
+		"app.kubernetes.io/managed-by": "opentelemetry-operator",
+		"app.kubernetes.io/instance":   fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", col.GetNamespace(), col.GetName()),
+		"app.kubernetes.io/part-of":    "opentelemetry",
+		"app.kubernetes.io/component":  "opentelemetry-collector",
+	}
+}
+
+func (agent *Agent) generateCollectorHealth(selectorLabels map[string]string, namespace string) (map[string]*protobufs.ComponentHealth, error) {
+	pods, err := agent.applier.GetCollectorPods(selectorLabels, namespace)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	healthMap := map[string]*protobufs.ComponentHealth{}
+	for _, item := range pods.Items {
+		key := newKubeResourceKey(item.GetNamespace(), item.GetName())
+		healthy := true
+		if item.Status.Phase != "Running" {
+			healthy = false
+		}
+		healthMap[key.String()] = &protobufs.ComponentHealth{
+			StartTimeUnixNano:  uint64(item.Status.StartTime.UnixNano()),
+			StatusTimeUnixNano: uint64(agent.clock.Now().UnixNano()),
+			Status:             string(item.Status.Phase),
+			Healthy:            healthy,
 		}
 	}
 	return healthMap, nil
@@ -232,7 +284,7 @@ func (agent *Agent) getEffectiveConfig(ctx context.Context) (*protobufs.Effectiv
 			agent.logger.Error(err, "failed to marhsal config")
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		mapKey := newCollectorKey(instance.GetNamespace(), instance.GetName())
+		mapKey := newKubeResourceKey(instance.GetNamespace(), instance.GetName())
 		instanceMap[mapKey.String()] = &protobufs.AgentConfigFile{
 			Body:        marshaled,
 			ContentType: "yaml",
@@ -277,7 +329,7 @@ func (agent *Agent) applyRemoteConfig(config *protobufs.AgentRemoteConfig) (*pro
 		if len(key) == 0 || len(file.Body) == 0 {
 			continue
 		}
-		colKey, err := collectorKeyFromKey(key)
+		colKey, err := kubeResourceFromKey(key)
 		if err != nil {
 			multiErr = multierr.Append(multiErr, err)
 			continue
diff --git a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/agent_test.go b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/agent_test.go
index b6086c79bf..c8dd542be2 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/agent_test.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/agent_test.go
@@ -31,9 +31,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	testingclock "k8s.io/utils/clock/testing"
+	runtimeClient "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client/fake"
 
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-operator/apis/v1alpha1"
@@ -49,9 +51,11 @@ const (
 	testNamespace      = "testnamespace"
 	testCollectorName  = "collector"
 	otherCollectorName = "other"
+	thirdCollectorName = "third"
 	emptyConfigHash    = ""
 	testCollectorKey   = testNamespace + "/" + testCollectorName
 	otherCollectorKey  = testNamespace + "/" + otherCollectorName
+	thirdCollectorKey  = otherCollectorName + "/" + thirdCollectorName
 
 	agentTestFileName                       = "testdata/agent.yaml"
 	agentTestFileHttpName                   = "testdata/agenthttpbasic.yaml"
@@ -73,6 +77,32 @@ var (
 	invalidYamlConfigHash      = getConfigHash(testCollectorKey, collectorInvalidFile)
 	updatedYamlConfigHash      = getConfigHash(testCollectorKey, collectorUpdatedFile)
 	otherUpdatedYamlConfigHash = getConfigHash(otherCollectorKey, collectorUpdatedFile)
+
+	podTime     = metav1.NewTime(time.UnixMicro(1704748549000000))
+	mockPodList = &v1.PodList{
+		TypeMeta: metav1.TypeMeta{
+			Kind:       "PodList",
+			APIVersion: "v1",
+		},
+		Items: []v1.Pod{
+			{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+					Name:      thirdCollectorName + "-1",
+					Namespace: otherCollectorName,
+					Labels: map[string]string{
+						"app.kubernetes.io/managed-by": "opentelemetry-operator",
+						"app.kubernetes.io/instance":   fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", otherCollectorName, thirdCollectorName),
+						"app.kubernetes.io/part-of":    "opentelemetry",
+						"app.kubernetes.io/component":  "opentelemetry-collector",
+					},
+				},
+				Spec: v1.PodSpec{},
+				Status: v1.PodStatus{
+					StartTime: &podTime,
+					Phase:     v1.PodRunning,
+				},
+			},
+		}}
 )
 
 func getConfigHash(key, file string) string {
@@ -130,16 +160,17 @@ func (m *mockOpampClient) SetPackageStatuses(_ *protobufs.PackageStatuses) error
 	return nil
 }
 
-func getFakeApplier(t *testing.T, conf *config.Config) *operator.Client {
+func getFakeApplier(t *testing.T, conf *config.Config, lists ...runtimeClient.ObjectList) *operator.Client {
 	schemeBuilder := runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(func(s *runtime.Scheme) error {
 		s.AddKnownTypes(v1alpha1.GroupVersion, &v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollector{}, &v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollectorList{})
+		s.AddKnownTypes(v1.SchemeGroupVersion, &v1.Pod{}, &v1.PodList{})
 		metav1.AddToGroupVersion(s, v1alpha1.GroupVersion)
 		return nil
 	})
 	scheme := runtime.NewScheme()
 	err := schemeBuilder.AddToScheme(scheme)
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Should be able to add custom types")
-	c := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithScheme(scheme)
+	c := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithLists(lists...).WithScheme(scheme)
 	return operator.NewClient("test-bridge", l, c.Build(), conf.GetComponentsAllowed())
 }
 
@@ -205,6 +236,7 @@ func TestAgent_getHealth(t *testing.T) {
 							LastError:          "",
 							Status:             "",
 							StatusTimeUnixNano: uint64(fakeClock.Now().UnixNano()),
+							ComponentHealthMap: map[string]*protobufs.ComponentHealth{},
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -236,6 +268,7 @@ func TestAgent_getHealth(t *testing.T) {
 							LastError:          "",
 							Status:             "",
 							StatusTimeUnixNano: uint64(fakeClock.Now().UnixNano()),
+							ComponentHealthMap: map[string]*protobufs.ComponentHealth{},
 						},
 						"testnamespace/other": {
 							Healthy:            false, // we're working with mocks so the status will never be reconciled.
@@ -243,6 +276,45 @@ func TestAgent_getHealth(t *testing.T) {
 							LastError:          "",
 							Status:             "",
 							StatusTimeUnixNano: uint64(fakeClock.Now().UnixNano()),
+							ComponentHealthMap: map[string]*protobufs.ComponentHealth{},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "with pod health",
+			fields: fields{
+				configFile: agentTestFileName,
+			},
+			args: args{
+				ctx: context.Background(),
+				configs: []map[string]string{
+					{
+						thirdCollectorKey: collectorBasicFile,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			want: []*protobufs.ComponentHealth{
+				{
+					Healthy:            true,
+					StartTimeUnixNano:  uint64(fakeClock.Now().UnixNano()),
+					StatusTimeUnixNano: uint64(fakeClock.Now().UnixNano()),
+					ComponentHealthMap: map[string]*protobufs.ComponentHealth{
+						"other/third": {
+							Healthy:            false, // we're working with mocks so the status will never be reconciled.
+							StartTimeUnixNano:  collectorStartTime,
+							LastError:          "",
+							Status:             "",
+							StatusTimeUnixNano: uint64(fakeClock.Now().UnixNano()),
+							ComponentHealthMap: map[string]*protobufs.ComponentHealth{
+								otherCollectorName + "/" + thirdCollectorName + "-1": {
+									Healthy:            true,
+									Status:             "Running",
+									StatusTimeUnixNano: uint64(fakeClock.Now().UnixNano()),
+									StartTimeUnixNano:  uint64(podTime.UnixNano()),
+								},
+							},
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -255,7 +327,7 @@ func TestAgent_getHealth(t *testing.T) {
 			conf := config.NewConfig(logr.Discard())
 			loadErr := config.LoadFromFile(conf, tt.fields.configFile)
 			require.NoError(t, loadErr, "should be able to load config")
-			applier := getFakeApplier(t, conf)
+			applier := getFakeApplier(t, conf, mockPodList)
 			agent := NewAgent(l, applier, conf, mockClient)
 			agent.clock = fakeClock
 			err := agent.Start()
diff --git a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/collector_key.go b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/kube_resource_key.go
similarity index 70%
rename from cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/collector_key.go
rename to cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/kube_resource_key.go
index d2e6c8d4f8..4d59d5e5c8 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/collector_key.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/kube_resource_key.go
@@ -20,24 +20,24 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 )
 
-type collectorKey struct {
+type kubeResourceKey struct {
 	name      string
 	namespace string
 }
 
-func newCollectorKey(namespace string, name string) collectorKey {
-	return collectorKey{name: name, namespace: namespace}
+func newKubeResourceKey(namespace string, name string) kubeResourceKey {
+	return kubeResourceKey{name: name, namespace: namespace}
 }
 
-func collectorKeyFromKey(key string) (collectorKey, error) {
+func kubeResourceFromKey(key string) (kubeResourceKey, error) {
 	s := strings.Split(key, "/")
 	// We expect map keys to be of the form name/namespace
 	if len(s) != 2 {
-		return collectorKey{}, errors.New("invalid key")
+		return kubeResourceKey{}, errors.New("invalid key")
 	}
-	return newCollectorKey(s[0], s[1]), nil
+	return newKubeResourceKey(s[0], s[1]), nil
 }
 
-func (k collectorKey) String() string {
+func (k kubeResourceKey) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", k.namespace, k.name)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/collector_key_test.go b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/kube_resource_key_test.go
similarity index 83%
rename from cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/collector_key_test.go
rename to cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/kube_resource_key_test.go
index 7a27180f69..30385762b7 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/collector_key_test.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/agent/kube_resource_key_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func Test_collectorKeyFromKey(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name    string
 		args    args
-		want    collectorKey
+		want    kubeResourceKey
 		wantErr assert.ErrorAssertionFunc
 	}{
 		{
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func Test_collectorKeyFromKey(t *testing.T) {
 			args: args{
 				key: "namespace/good",
 			},
-			want: collectorKey{
+			want: kubeResourceKey{
 				name:      "good",
 				namespace: "namespace",
 			},
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func Test_collectorKeyFromKey(t *testing.T) {
 			args: args{
 				key: "badnamespace",
 			},
-			want:    collectorKey{},
+			want:    kubeResourceKey{},
 			wantErr: assert.Error,
 		},
 		{
@@ -55,17 +55,17 @@ func Test_collectorKeyFromKey(t *testing.T) {
 			args: args{
 				key: "too/many/slashes",
 			},
-			want:    collectorKey{},
+			want:    kubeResourceKey{},
 			wantErr: assert.Error,
 		},
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			got, err := collectorKeyFromKey(tt.args.key)
-			if !tt.wantErr(t, err, fmt.Sprintf("collectorKeyFromKey(%v)", tt.args.key)) {
+			got, err := kubeResourceFromKey(tt.args.key)
+			if !tt.wantErr(t, err, fmt.Sprintf("kubeResourceFromKey(%v)", tt.args.key)) {
 				return
 			}
-			assert.Equalf(t, tt.want, got, "collectorKeyFromKey(%v)", tt.args.key)
+			assert.Equalf(t, tt.want, got, "kubeResourceFromKey(%v)", tt.args.key)
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ func Test_collectorKey_String(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			k := newCollectorKey(tt.fields.namespace, tt.fields.name)
+			k := newKubeResourceKey(tt.fields.namespace, tt.fields.name)
 			assert.Equalf(t, tt.want, k.String(), "String()")
 		})
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config/config.go b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config/config.go
index 38f06d6ff9..90a1e310b0 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config/config.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config/config.go
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ func LoadFromFile(cfg *Config, configFile string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err = yaml.UnmarshalStrict(yamlFile, cfg); err != nil {
+	if err = yaml.Unmarshal(yamlFile, cfg); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error unmarshaling YAML: %w", err)
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config/config_test.go b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config/config_test.go
index e9caeb2b0c..9b9b0fdd3a 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config/config_test.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config/config_test.go
@@ -127,10 +127,7 @@ func TestLoad(t *testing.T) {
 			args: args{
 				file: "./testdata/agentbadconf.yaml",
 			},
-			want: &Config{
-				// We do unmarshal partially
-				Endpoint: "http://127.0.0.1:4320/v1/opamp",
-			},
+			want: &Config{},
 			wantErr: func(t assert.TestingT, err error, i ...interface{}) bool {
 				return assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "error unmarshaling YAML", i...)
 			},
diff --git a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config/testdata/agentbadconf.yaml b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config/testdata/agentbadconf.yaml
index ba4903daf8..417db093eb 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config/testdata/agentbadconf.yaml
+++ b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/config/testdata/agentbadconf.yaml
@@ -2,10 +2,14 @@ endpoint: http://127.0.0.1:4320/v1/opamp
 cawdawapabilities:
   AcceptsRemoteConfig: true
   ReportsEffectiveConfig: true
-  AcceptsPackages: false
+  AcceptsPackages:
+  false
   ReportsPackageStatuses: false
-  ReportsOwnTraces: true
-  ReportsOwnMetrics: true
+  Report
+    sOwnTraces: true
+  Re
+
+    portsOwnMetrics: true
   ReportsOwnLogs: true
   AcceptsOpAMPConnectionSettings: true
   AcceptsOtherConnectionSettings: true
diff --git a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/operator/client.go b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/operator/client.go
index b892cbe177..3c11026d05 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/operator/client.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/operator/client.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opamp-go/protobufs"
+	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/selection"
@@ -45,6 +46,9 @@ type ConfigApplier interface {
 	// GetInstance retrieves an OpenTelemetryCollector CRD given a name and namespace.
 	GetInstance(name string, namespace string) (*v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollector, error)
 
+	// GetCollectorPods retrieves all pods that match the given collector's selector labels and namespace.
+	GetCollectorPods(selectorLabels map[string]string, namespace string) (*v1.PodList, error)
+
 	// ListInstances retrieves all OpenTelemetryCollector CRDs created by the operator-opamp-bridge agent.
 	ListInstances() ([]v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollector, error)
 
@@ -219,6 +223,13 @@ func (c Client) GetInstance(name string, namespace string) (*v1alpha1.OpenTeleme
 	return &result, nil
 }
 
+func (c Client) GetCollectorPods(selectorLabels map[string]string, namespace string) (*v1.PodList, error) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	podList := &v1.PodList{}
+	err := c.k8sClient.List(ctx, podList, client.MatchingLabels(selectorLabels), client.InNamespace(namespace))
+	return podList, err
+}
+
 func (c Client) validate(spec v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollectorSpec) ([]string, error) {
 	// Do not use this feature if it's not specified
 	if c.componentsAllowed == nil || len(c.componentsAllowed) == 0 {
diff --git a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/operator/client_test.go b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/operator/client_test.go
index 8db8fb1a51..22b76df92c 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/operator/client_test.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-opamp-bridge/operator/client_test.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ package operator
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opamp-go/protobufs"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
@@ -40,16 +42,17 @@ const (
 	bridgeName = "bridge-test"
 )
 
-func getFakeClient(t *testing.T) client.WithWatch {
+func getFakeClient(t *testing.T, lists ...client.ObjectList) client.WithWatch {
 	schemeBuilder := runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(func(s *runtime.Scheme) error {
 		s.AddKnownTypes(v1alpha1.GroupVersion, &v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollector{}, &v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollectorList{})
+		s.AddKnownTypes(v1.SchemeGroupVersion, &v1.Pod{}, &v1.PodList{})
 		metav1.AddToGroupVersion(s, v1alpha1.GroupVersion)
 		return nil
 	})
 	scheme := runtime.NewScheme()
 	err := schemeBuilder.AddToScheme(scheme)
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Should be able to add custom types")
-	c := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithScheme(scheme)
+	c := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithLists(lists...).WithScheme(scheme)
 	return c.Build()
 }
 
@@ -243,3 +246,86 @@ func loadConfig(file string) ([]byte, error) {
 	}
 	return yamlFile, nil
 }
+
+func TestClient_GetCollectorPods(t *testing.T) {
+	mockPodList := &v1.PodList{
+		TypeMeta: metav1.TypeMeta{
+			Kind:       "PodList",
+			APIVersion: "v1",
+		},
+		Items: []v1.Pod{
+			{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+					Name:      "mock-pod",
+					Namespace: "something",
+					Labels: map[string]string{
+						"match1": "yes",
+						"match2": "1",
+					},
+				},
+				Spec: v1.PodSpec{},
+			},
+		}}
+	emptyList := &v1.PodList{
+		TypeMeta: metav1.TypeMeta{
+			Kind:       "PodList",
+			APIVersion: "v1",
+		},
+		Items: []v1.Pod{}}
+	type args struct {
+		selector  map[string]string
+		namespace string
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		args    args
+		want    *v1.PodList
+		wantErr assert.ErrorAssertionFunc
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "base case",
+			args: args{
+				selector: map[string]string{
+					"match1": "yes",
+					"match2": "1",
+				},
+			},
+			want:    mockPodList,
+			wantErr: assert.NoError,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "no match",
+			args: args{
+				selector: map[string]string{
+					"match1": "yes",
+					"match2": "2",
+				},
+			},
+			want:    emptyList,
+			wantErr: assert.NoError,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "good selector wrong namespace",
+			args: args{
+				selector: map[string]string{
+					"match1": "yes",
+					"match2": "1",
+				},
+				namespace: "nothing",
+			},
+			want:    emptyList,
+			wantErr: assert.NoError,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			fakeClient := getFakeClient(t, mockPodList)
+			c := NewClient(bridgeName, clientLogger, fakeClient, nil)
+			got, err := c.GetCollectorPods(tt.args.selector, tt.args.namespace)
+			if !tt.wantErr(t, err, fmt.Sprintf("GetCollectorPods(%v)", tt.args.selector)) {
+				return
+			}
+			assert.Equalf(t, tt.want, got, "GetCollectorPods(%v)", tt.args.selector)
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tests/e2e-opampbridge/opampbridge/00-install.yaml b/tests/e2e-opampbridge/opampbridge/00-install.yaml
index bd4c263084..3bfbf50e88 100644
--- a/tests/e2e-opampbridge/opampbridge/00-install.yaml
+++ b/tests/e2e-opampbridge/opampbridge/00-install.yaml
@@ -15,6 +15,13 @@ rules:
   - opentelemetrycollectors
   verbs:
   - '*'
+- apiGroups:
+  - ''
+  resources:
+  - pods
+  verbs:
+  - 'list'
+  - 'get'
 ---
 apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
 kind: TestStep