diff --git a/bin/reth/src/debug_cmd/merkle.rs b/bin/reth/src/debug_cmd/merkle.rs
index df428156e..193f4f331 100644
--- a/bin/reth/src/debug_cmd/merkle.rs
+++ b/bin/reth/src/debug_cmd/merkle.rs
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ impl Command {
                 .execute(
                     &mut tx,
                     ExecInput {
-                        previous_stage: Some((StageId::SenderRecovery, block)),
+                        target: Some(block),
                         checkpoint: block.checked_sub(1).map(StageCheckpoint::new),
                     },
                 )
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ impl Command {
                     .execute(
                         &mut tx,
                         ExecInput {
-                            previous_stage: Some((StageId::Execution, block)),
+                            target: Some(block),
                             checkpoint: progress.map(StageCheckpoint::new),
                         },
                     )
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ impl Command {
                     .execute(
                         &mut tx,
                         ExecInput {
-                            previous_stage: Some((StageId::AccountHashing, block)),
+                            target: Some(block),
                             checkpoint: progress.map(StageCheckpoint::new),
                         },
                     )
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ impl Command {
                 .execute(
                     &mut tx,
                     ExecInput {
-                        previous_stage: Some((StageId::StorageHashing, block)),
+                        target: Some(block),
                         checkpoint: progress.map(StageCheckpoint::new),
                     },
                 )
@@ -166,10 +166,7 @@ impl Command {
                     .walk_range(..)?
                     .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?;
 
-                let clean_input = ExecInput {
-                    previous_stage: Some((StageId::StorageHashing, block)),
-                    checkpoint: None,
-                };
+                let clean_input = ExecInput { target: Some(block), checkpoint: None };
                 loop {
                     let clean_result = merkle_stage.execute(&mut tx, clean_input).await;
                     assert!(clean_result.is_ok(), "Clean state root calculation failed");
diff --git a/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/execution.rs b/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/execution.rs
index 50593dd6c..832677331 100644
--- a/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/execution.rs
+++ b/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/execution.rs
@@ -4,10 +4,7 @@ use eyre::Result;
 use reth_db::{
     cursor::DbCursorRO, database::Database, table::TableImporter, tables, transaction::DbTx,
 };
-use reth_primitives::{
-    stage::{StageCheckpoint, StageId},
-    MAINNET,
-};
+use reth_primitives::{stage::StageCheckpoint, MAINNET};
 use reth_provider::Transaction;
 use reth_stages::{stages::ExecutionStage, Stage, UnwindInput};
 use std::{ops::DerefMut, path::PathBuf, sync::Arc};
@@ -139,7 +136,7 @@ async fn dry_run(
         .execute(
             &mut tx,
             reth_stages::ExecInput {
-                previous_stage: Some((StageId::Other("Another"), to)),
+                target: Some(to),
                 checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(from)),
             },
         )
diff --git a/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/hashing_account.rs b/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/hashing_account.rs
index f45affb28..642fa525a 100644
--- a/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/hashing_account.rs
+++ b/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/hashing_account.rs
@@ -2,10 +2,7 @@ use super::setup;
 use crate::utils::DbTool;
 use eyre::Result;
 use reth_db::{database::Database, table::TableImporter, tables};
-use reth_primitives::{
-    stage::{StageCheckpoint, StageId},
-    BlockNumber,
-};
+use reth_primitives::{stage::StageCheckpoint, BlockNumber};
 use reth_provider::Transaction;
 use reth_stages::{stages::AccountHashingStage, Stage, UnwindInput};
 use std::{ops::DerefMut, path::PathBuf};
@@ -83,7 +80,7 @@ async fn dry_run(
             .execute(
                 &mut tx,
                 reth_stages::ExecInput {
-                    previous_stage: Some((StageId::Other("Another"), to)),
+                    target: Some(to),
                     checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(from)),
                 },
             )
diff --git a/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/hashing_storage.rs b/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/hashing_storage.rs
index 7abc8d6b5..6529541be 100644
--- a/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/hashing_storage.rs
+++ b/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/hashing_storage.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use super::setup;
 use crate::utils::DbTool;
 use eyre::Result;
 use reth_db::{database::Database, table::TableImporter, tables};
-use reth_primitives::stage::{StageCheckpoint, StageId};
+use reth_primitives::stage::StageCheckpoint;
 use reth_provider::Transaction;
 use reth_stages::{stages::StorageHashingStage, Stage, UnwindInput};
 use std::{ops::DerefMut, path::PathBuf};
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ async fn dry_run(
             .execute(
                 &mut tx,
                 reth_stages::ExecInput {
-                    previous_stage: Some((StageId::Other("Another"), to)),
+                    target: Some(to),
                     checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(from)),
                 },
             )
diff --git a/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/merkle.rs b/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/merkle.rs
index b0447c248..a1f0d599a 100644
--- a/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/merkle.rs
+++ b/bin/reth/src/stage/dump/merkle.rs
@@ -2,10 +2,7 @@ use super::setup;
 use crate::utils::DbTool;
 use eyre::Result;
 use reth_db::{database::Database, table::TableImporter, tables};
-use reth_primitives::{
-    stage::{StageCheckpoint, StageId},
-    BlockNumber, MAINNET,
-};
+use reth_primitives::{stage::StageCheckpoint, BlockNumber, MAINNET};
 use reth_provider::Transaction;
 use reth_stages::{
     stages::{
@@ -57,10 +54,8 @@ async fn unwind_and_copy<DB: Database>(
         checkpoint: StageCheckpoint::new(tip_block_number),
         bad_block: None,
     };
-    let execute_input = reth_stages::ExecInput {
-        previous_stage: Some((StageId::Other("Another"), to)),
-        checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(from)),
-    };
+    let execute_input =
+        reth_stages::ExecInput { target: Some(to), checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(from)) };
 
     // Unwind hashes all the way to FROM
     StorageHashingStage::default().unwind(&mut unwind_tx, unwind).await.unwrap();
@@ -128,7 +123,7 @@ async fn dry_run(
         .execute(
             &mut tx,
             reth_stages::ExecInput {
-                previous_stage: Some((StageId::Other("Another"), to)),
+                target: Some(to),
                 checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(from)),
             },
         )
diff --git a/bin/reth/src/stage/run.rs b/bin/reth/src/stage/run.rs
index 4a2a638ca..9f4291830 100644
--- a/bin/reth/src/stage/run.rs
+++ b/bin/reth/src/stage/run.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use clap::Parser;
 use reth_beacon_consensus::BeaconConsensus;
 use reth_config::Config;
 use reth_downloaders::bodies::bodies::BodiesDownloaderBuilder;
-use reth_primitives::{stage::StageId, ChainSpec};
+use reth_primitives::ChainSpec;
 use reth_provider::{providers::get_stage_checkpoint, ShareableDatabase, Transaction};
 use reth_staged_sync::utils::init::init_db;
 use reth_stages::{
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ impl Command {
         }
 
         let mut input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((StageId::Other("No Previous Stage"), self.to)),
+            target: Some(self.to),
             checkpoint: Some(checkpoint.with_block_number(self.from)),
         };
 
diff --git a/crates/stages/benches/criterion.rs b/crates/stages/benches/criterion.rs
index 6969a71f0..aa5a000fc 100644
--- a/crates/stages/benches/criterion.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/benches/criterion.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use criterion::{
 use pprof::criterion::{Output, PProfProfiler};
 use reth_db::mdbx::{Env, WriteMap};
 use reth_interfaces::test_utils::TestConsensus;
-use reth_primitives::stage::{StageCheckpoint, StageId};
+use reth_primitives::stage::StageCheckpoint;
 use reth_stages::{
     stages::{MerkleStage, SenderRecoveryStage, TotalDifficultyStage, TransactionLookupStage},
     test_utils::TestTransaction,
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ fn measure_stage<F, S>(
         stage,
         (
             ExecInput {
-                previous_stage: Some((StageId::Other("Another"), block_interval.end)),
+                target: Some(block_interval.end),
                 checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(block_interval.start)),
             },
             UnwindInput {
diff --git a/crates/stages/benches/setup/account_hashing.rs b/crates/stages/benches/setup/account_hashing.rs
index 662474a7d..893e2c931 100644
--- a/crates/stages/benches/setup/account_hashing.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/benches/setup/account_hashing.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use super::{constants, StageRange};
 use reth_db::{
     cursor::DbCursorRO, database::Database, tables, transaction::DbTx, DatabaseError as DbError,
 };
-use reth_primitives::stage::{StageCheckpoint, StageId};
+use reth_primitives::stage::StageCheckpoint;
 use reth_stages::{
     stages::{AccountHashingStage, SeedOpts},
     test_utils::TestTransaction,
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ fn find_stage_range(db: &Path) -> StageRange {
 
             stage_range = Some((
                 ExecInput {
-                    previous_stage: Some((StageId::Other("Another"), to.block_number)),
+                    target: Some(to.block_number),
                     checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(from)),
                 },
                 UnwindInput { unwind_to: from, checkpoint: to, bad_block: None },
@@ -66,14 +66,5 @@ fn generate_testdata_db(num_blocks: u64) -> (PathBuf, StageRange) {
         let mut tx = tx.inner();
         let _accounts = AccountHashingStage::seed(&mut tx, opts);
     }
-    (
-        path,
-        (
-            ExecInput {
-                previous_stage: Some((StageId::Other("Another"), num_blocks)),
-                ..Default::default()
-            },
-            UnwindInput::default(),
-        ),
-    )
+    (path, (ExecInput { target: Some(num_blocks), ..Default::default() }, UnwindInput::default()))
 }
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/pipeline/mod.rs b/crates/stages/src/pipeline/mod.rs
index c1a48dda1..edb8e02e6 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/pipeline/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/pipeline/mod.rs
@@ -223,10 +223,9 @@ where
                 }
             }
 
-            previous_stage = Some((
-                stage_id,
+            previous_stage = Some(
                 get_stage_checkpoint(&self.db.tx()?, stage_id)?.unwrap_or_default().block_number,
-            ));
+            );
         }
 
         Ok(self.progress.next_ctrl())
@@ -292,7 +291,7 @@ where
 
     async fn execute_stage_to_completion(
         &mut self,
-        previous_stage: Option<(StageId, BlockNumber)>,
+        previous_stage: Option<BlockNumber>,
         stage_index: usize,
     ) -> Result<ControlFlow, PipelineError> {
         let total_stages = self.stages.len();
@@ -300,6 +299,7 @@ where
         let stage = &mut self.stages[stage_index];
         let stage_id = stage.id();
         let mut made_progress = false;
+        let target = self.max_block.or(previous_stage);
 
         loop {
             let mut tx = Transaction::new(&self.db)?;
@@ -332,10 +332,7 @@ where
                 checkpoint: prev_checkpoint,
             });
 
-            match stage
-                .execute(&mut tx, ExecInput { previous_stage, checkpoint: prev_checkpoint })
-                .await
-            {
+            match stage.execute(&mut tx, ExecInput { target, checkpoint: prev_checkpoint }).await {
                 Ok(out @ ExecOutput { checkpoint, done }) => {
                     made_progress |=
                         checkpoint.block_number != prev_checkpoint.unwrap_or_default().block_number;
@@ -347,11 +344,7 @@ where
                         %done,
                         "Stage committed progress"
                     );
-                    self.metrics.stage_checkpoint(
-                        stage_id,
-                        checkpoint,
-                        self.max_block.or(previous_stage.map(|(_, block_number)| block_number)),
-                    );
+                    self.metrics.stage_checkpoint(stage_id, checkpoint, target);
                     tx.save_stage_checkpoint(stage_id, checkpoint)?;
 
                     self.listeners.notify(PipelineEvent::Ran {
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stage.rs b/crates/stages/src/stage.rs
index 0abad4d9f..ba4a286f7 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stage.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stage.rs
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ use std::{
 /// Stage execution input, see [Stage::execute].
 #[derive(Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Clone, Copy)]
 pub struct ExecInput {
-    /// The stage that was run before the current stage and the block number it reached.
-    pub previous_stage: Option<(StageId, BlockNumber)>,
+    /// The target block number the stage needs to execute towards.
+    pub target: Option<BlockNumber>,
     /// The checkpoint of this stage the last time it was executed.
     pub checkpoint: Option<StageCheckpoint>,
 }
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ impl ExecInput {
 
     /// Returns `true` if the target block number has already been reached.
     pub fn target_reached(&self) -> bool {
-        self.checkpoint().block_number >= self.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number()
+        self.checkpoint().block_number >= self.target()
     }
 
-    /// Return the progress of the previous stage or default.
-    pub fn previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number(&self) -> BlockNumber {
-        self.previous_stage.map(|(_, block_number)| block_number).unwrap_or_default()
+    /// Return the target block number or default.
+    pub fn target(&self) -> BlockNumber {
+        self.target.unwrap_or_default()
     }
 
     /// Return next block range that needs to be executed.
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ impl ExecInput {
     ) -> (RangeInclusive<BlockNumber>, bool) {
         let current_block = self.checkpoint();
         let start = current_block.block_number + 1;
-        let target = self.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number();
+        let target = self.target();
 
         let end = min(target, current_block.block_number.saturating_add(threshold));
 
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ impl ExecInput {
             .get::<tables::BlockBodyIndices>(start_block)?
             .ok_or(ProviderError::BlockBodyIndicesNotFound(start_block))?;
 
-        let target_block = self.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number();
+        let target_block = self.target();
 
         let first_tx_number = start_block_body.first_tx_num();
         let mut last_tx_number = start_block_body.last_tx_num();
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stages/bodies.rs b/crates/stages/src/stages/bodies.rs
index ffcde2274..d5bebfb08 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stages/bodies.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stages/bodies.rs
@@ -236,7 +236,6 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::test_utils::{
         stage_test_suite_ext, ExecuteStageTestRunner, StageTestRunner, UnwindStageTestRunner,
-        PREV_STAGE_ID,
     };
     use assert_matches::assert_matches;
     use reth_primitives::stage::StageUnitCheckpoint;
@@ -252,7 +251,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Set up test runner
         let mut runner = BodyTestRunner::default();
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
         runner.seed_execution(input).expect("failed to seed execution");
@@ -290,7 +289,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Set up test runner
         let mut runner = BodyTestRunner::default();
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
         runner.seed_execution(input).expect("failed to seed execution");
@@ -328,7 +327,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Set up test runner
         let mut runner = BodyTestRunner::default();
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
         runner.seed_execution(input).expect("failed to seed execution");
@@ -355,10 +354,8 @@ mod tests {
         let first_run_checkpoint = first_run.unwrap().checkpoint;
 
         // Execute again on top of the previous run
-        let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
-            checkpoint: Some(first_run_checkpoint),
-        };
+        let input =
+            ExecInput { target: Some(previous_stage), checkpoint: Some(first_run_checkpoint) };
         let rx = runner.execute(input);
 
         // Check that we synced more blocks
@@ -389,7 +386,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Set up test runner
         let mut runner = BodyTestRunner::default();
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
         runner.seed_execution(input).expect("failed to seed execution");
@@ -560,7 +557,7 @@ mod tests {
 
             fn seed_execution(&mut self, input: ExecInput) -> Result<Self::Seed, TestRunnerError> {
                 let start = input.checkpoint().block_number;
-                let end = input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number();
+                let end = input.target();
                 let blocks = random_block_range(start..=end, GENESIS_HASH, 0..2);
                 self.tx.insert_headers_with_td(blocks.iter().map(|block| &block.header))?;
                 if let Some(progress) = blocks.first() {
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stages/execution.rs b/crates/stages/src/stages/execution.rs
index 1a8cc2ea1..ea3308482 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stages/execution.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stages/execution.rs
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ impl<EF: ExecutorFactory> ExecutionStage<EF> {
         input: ExecInput,
     ) -> Result<ExecOutput, StageError> {
         let start_block = input.next_block();
-        let max_block = input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number();
+        let max_block = input.target();
 
         // Build executor
         let mut executor = self.executor_factory.with_sp(LatestStateProviderRef::new(&**tx));
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ impl ExecutionStageThresholds {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::test_utils::{TestTransaction, PREV_STAGE_ID};
+    use crate::test_utils::TestTransaction;
     use assert_matches::assert_matches;
     use reth_db::{
         mdbx::{test_utils::create_test_db, EnvKind, WriteMap},
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ mod tests {
         let state_db = create_test_db::<WriteMap>(EnvKind::RW);
         let mut tx = Transaction::new(state_db.as_ref()).unwrap();
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, 1)),
+            target: Some(1),
             /// The progress of this stage the last time it was executed.
             checkpoint: None,
         };
@@ -705,7 +705,7 @@ mod tests {
         let state_db = create_test_db::<WriteMap>(EnvKind::RW);
         let mut tx = Transaction::new(state_db.as_ref()).unwrap();
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, 1)),
+            target: Some(1),
             /// The progress of this stage the last time it was executed.
             checkpoint: None,
         };
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ mod tests {
         let test_tx = TestTransaction::default();
         let mut tx = test_tx.inner();
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, 1)),
+            target: Some(1),
             /// The progress of this stage the last time it was executed.
             checkpoint: None,
         };
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stages/finish.rs b/crates/stages/src/stages/finish.rs
index 2ec60d607..e5f4f9218 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stages/finish.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stages/finish.rs
@@ -21,10 +21,7 @@ impl<DB: Database> Stage<DB> for FinishStage {
         _tx: &mut Transaction<'_, DB>,
         input: ExecInput,
     ) -> Result<ExecOutput, StageError> {
-        Ok(ExecOutput {
-            checkpoint: StageCheckpoint::new(input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number()),
-            done: true,
-        })
+        Ok(ExecOutput { checkpoint: StageCheckpoint::new(input.target()), done: true })
     }
 
     async fn unwind(
@@ -74,7 +71,7 @@ mod tests {
             self.tx.insert_headers_with_td(std::iter::once(&head))?;
 
             // use previous progress as seed size
-            let end = input.previous_stage.map(|(_, num)| num).unwrap_or_default() + 1;
+            let end = input.target.unwrap_or_default() + 1;
 
             if start + 1 >= end {
                 return Ok(Vec::default())
@@ -95,7 +92,7 @@ mod tests {
                 assert!(output.done, "stage should always be done");
                 assert_eq!(
                     output.checkpoint.block_number,
-                    input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number(),
+                    input.target(),
                     "stage progress should always match progress of previous stage"
                 );
             }
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stages/hashing_account.rs b/crates/stages/src/stages/hashing_account.rs
index 39def8647..808f0bed6 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stages/hashing_account.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stages/hashing_account.rs
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ impl<DB: Database> Stage<DB> for AccountHashingStage {
 
         // We finished the hashing stage, no future iterations is expected for the same block range,
         // so no checkpoint is needed.
-        let checkpoint = StageCheckpoint::new(input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number())
+        let checkpoint = StageCheckpoint::new(input.target())
             .with_account_hashing_stage_checkpoint(AccountHashingCheckpoint {
                 progress: stage_checkpoint_progress(tx)?,
                 ..Default::default()
@@ -301,7 +301,6 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::test_utils::{
         stage_test_suite_ext, ExecuteStageTestRunner, TestRunnerError, UnwindStageTestRunner,
-        PREV_STAGE_ID,
     };
     use assert_matches::assert_matches;
     use reth_primitives::{stage::StageUnitCheckpoint, Account, U256};
@@ -317,7 +316,7 @@ mod tests {
         runner.set_clean_threshold(1);
 
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
 
@@ -358,7 +357,7 @@ mod tests {
         runner.set_commit_threshold(5);
 
         let mut input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
 
@@ -537,11 +536,7 @@ mod tests {
             fn seed_execution(&mut self, input: ExecInput) -> Result<Self::Seed, TestRunnerError> {
                 Ok(AccountHashingStage::seed(
                     &mut self.tx.inner(),
-                    SeedOpts {
-                        blocks: 1..=input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number(),
-                        accounts: 0..10,
-                        txs: 0..3,
-                    },
+                    SeedOpts { blocks: 1..=input.target(), accounts: 0..10, txs: 0..3 },
                 )
                 .unwrap())
             }
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stages/hashing_storage.rs b/crates/stages/src/stages/hashing_storage.rs
index fc19a2050..b2222d9a8 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stages/hashing_storage.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stages/hashing_storage.rs
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ impl<DB: Database> Stage<DB> for StorageHashingStage {
 
         // We finished the hashing stage, no future iterations is expected for the same block range,
         // so no checkpoint is needed.
-        let checkpoint = StageCheckpoint::new(input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number())
+        let checkpoint = StageCheckpoint::new(input.target())
             .with_storage_hashing_stage_checkpoint(StorageHashingCheckpoint {
                 progress: stage_checkpoint_progress(tx)?,
                 ..Default::default()
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::test_utils::{
         stage_test_suite_ext, ExecuteStageTestRunner, StageTestRunner, TestRunnerError,
-        TestTransaction, UnwindStageTestRunner, PREV_STAGE_ID,
+        TestTransaction, UnwindStageTestRunner,
     };
     use assert_matches::assert_matches;
     use reth_db::{
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ mod tests {
         runner.set_commit_threshold(1);
 
         let mut input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
 
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ mod tests {
         runner.set_commit_threshold(500);
 
         let mut input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
 
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         fn seed_execution(&mut self, input: ExecInput) -> Result<Self::Seed, TestRunnerError> {
             let stage_progress = input.next_block();
-            let end = input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number();
+            let end = input.target();
 
             let n_accounts = 31;
             let mut accounts = random_contract_account_range(&mut (0..n_accounts));
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stages/headers.rs b/crates/stages/src/stages/headers.rs
index 40cd245f0..3bb20ca0f 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stages/headers.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stages/headers.rs
@@ -374,7 +374,6 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::test_utils::{
         stage_test_suite, ExecuteStageTestRunner, StageTestRunner, UnwindStageTestRunner,
-        PREV_STAGE_ID,
     };
     use assert_matches::assert_matches;
     use reth_interfaces::test_utils::generators::random_header;
@@ -446,7 +445,7 @@ mod tests {
                 self.tx.commit(|tx| tx.put::<tables::HeaderTD>(head.number, U256::ZERO.into()))?;
 
                 // use previous checkpoint as seed size
-                let end = input.previous_stage.map(|(_, num)| num).unwrap_or_default() + 1;
+                let end = input.target.unwrap_or_default() + 1;
 
                 if start + 1 >= end {
                     return Ok(Vec::default())
@@ -554,7 +553,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut runner = HeadersTestRunner::with_linear_downloader();
         let (checkpoint, previous_stage) = (1000, 1200);
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(checkpoint)),
         };
         let headers = runner.seed_execution(input).expect("failed to seed execution");
@@ -648,7 +647,7 @@ mod tests {
         // pick range that's larger than the configured headers batch size
         let (checkpoint, previous_stage) = (600, 1200);
         let mut input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(checkpoint)),
         };
         let headers = runner.seed_execution(input).expect("failed to seed execution");
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stages/index_account_history.rs b/crates/stages/src/stages/index_account_history.rs
index a435f99b2..8c33cbe2a 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stages/index_account_history.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stages/index_account_history.rs
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ mod tests {
     use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 
     use super::*;
-    use crate::test_utils::{TestTransaction, PREV_STAGE_ID};
+    use crate::test_utils::TestTransaction;
     use reth_db::{
         models::{
             sharded_key::NUM_OF_INDICES_IN_SHARD, AccountBeforeTx, ShardedKey,
@@ -206,8 +206,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     async fn run(tx: &TestTransaction, run_to: u64) {
-        let input =
-            ExecInput { previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, run_to)), ..Default::default() };
+        let input = ExecInput { target: Some(run_to), ..Default::default() };
         let mut stage = IndexAccountHistoryStage::default();
         let mut tx = tx.inner();
         let out = stage.execute(&mut tx, input).await.unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stages/index_storage_history.rs b/crates/stages/src/stages/index_storage_history.rs
index 6bb328d0b..b5fc84113 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stages/index_storage_history.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stages/index_storage_history.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ impl<DB: Database> Stage<DB> for IndexStorageHistoryStage {
         tx: &mut Transaction<'_, DB>,
         input: ExecInput,
     ) -> Result<ExecOutput, StageError> {
-        let target = input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number();
+        let target = input.target();
         let (range, is_final_range) = input.next_block_range_with_threshold(self.commit_threshold);
 
         if range.is_empty() {
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ mod tests {
     use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 
     use super::*;
-    use crate::test_utils::{TestTransaction, PREV_STAGE_ID};
+    use crate::test_utils::TestTransaction;
     use reth_db::{
         models::{
             storage_sharded_key::{StorageShardedKey, NUM_OF_INDICES_IN_SHARD},
@@ -219,8 +219,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     async fn run(tx: &TestTransaction, run_to: u64) {
-        let input =
-            ExecInput { previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, run_to)), ..Default::default() };
+        let input = ExecInput { target: Some(run_to), ..Default::default() };
         let mut stage = IndexStorageHistoryStage::default();
         let mut tx = tx.inner();
         let out = stage.execute(&mut tx, input).await.unwrap();
@@ -307,7 +306,7 @@ mod tests {
     async fn insert_index_to_full_shard() {
         // init
         let tx = TestTransaction::default();
-        let _input = ExecInput { previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, 5)), ..Default::default() };
+        let _input = ExecInput { target: Some(5), ..Default::default() };
 
         // change does not matter only that account is present in changeset.
         let full_list = vec![3; NUM_OF_INDICES_IN_SHARD];
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stages/merkle.rs b/crates/stages/src/stages/merkle.rs
index 5228a64c6..aae483dd6 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stages/merkle.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stages/merkle.rs
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ impl<DB: Database> Stage<DB> for MerkleStage {
         let threshold = match self {
             MerkleStage::Unwind => {
                 info!(target: "sync::stages::merkle::unwind", "Stage is always skipped");
-                return Ok(ExecOutput::done(input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number()))
+                return Ok(ExecOutput::done(input.target()))
             }
             MerkleStage::Execution { clean_threshold } => *clean_threshold,
             #[cfg(any(test, feature = "test-utils"))]
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ impl<DB: Database> Stage<DB> for MerkleStage {
 
         let range = input.next_block_range();
         let (from_block, to_block) = range.clone().into_inner();
-        let current_block = input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number();
+        let current_block = input.target();
 
         let block = tx.get_header(current_block)?;
         let block_root = block.state_root;
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::test_utils::{
         stage_test_suite_ext, ExecuteStageTestRunner, StageTestRunner, TestRunnerError,
-        TestTransaction, UnwindStageTestRunner, PREV_STAGE_ID,
+        TestTransaction, UnwindStageTestRunner,
     };
     use assert_matches::assert_matches;
     use reth_db::{
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut runner = MerkleTestRunner::default();
         // set low threshold so we hash the whole storage
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
 
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Set up the runner
         let mut runner = MerkleTestRunner::default();
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
 
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ mod tests {
         fn seed_execution(&mut self, input: ExecInput) -> Result<Self::Seed, TestRunnerError> {
             let stage_progress = input.checkpoint().block_number;
             let start = stage_progress + 1;
-            let end = input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number();
+            let end = input.target();
 
             let num_of_accounts = 31;
             let accounts = random_contract_account_range(&mut (0..num_of_accounts))
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stages/sender_recovery.rs b/crates/stages/src/stages/sender_recovery.rs
index b417f8cd8..ae1e6d9d0 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stages/sender_recovery.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stages/sender_recovery.rs
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::test_utils::{
         stage_test_suite_ext, ExecuteStageTestRunner, StageTestRunner, TestRunnerError,
-        TestTransaction, UnwindStageTestRunner, PREV_STAGE_ID,
+        TestTransaction, UnwindStageTestRunner,
     };
 
     stage_test_suite_ext!(SenderRecoveryTestRunner, sender_recovery);
@@ -246,13 +246,13 @@ mod tests {
         // Set up the runner
         let runner = SenderRecoveryTestRunner::default();
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
 
         // Insert blocks with a single transaction at block `stage_progress + 10`
         let non_empty_block_number = stage_progress + 10;
-        let blocks = (stage_progress..=input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number())
+        let blocks = (stage_progress..=input.target())
             .map(|number| {
                 random_block(number, None, Some((number == non_empty_block_number) as u8), None)
             })
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ mod tests {
         let total_transactions = runner.tx.table::<tables::Transactions>().unwrap().len() as u64;
 
         let first_input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
 
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Execute second time to completion
         runner.set_threshold(u64::MAX);
         let second_input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(expected_progress)),
         };
         let result = runner.execute(second_input).await.unwrap();
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         fn seed_execution(&mut self, input: ExecInput) -> Result<Self::Seed, TestRunnerError> {
             let stage_progress = input.checkpoint().block_number;
-            let end = input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number();
+            let end = input.target();
 
             let blocks = random_block_range(stage_progress..=end, H256::zero(), 0..2);
             self.tx.insert_blocks(blocks.iter(), None)?;
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stages/total_difficulty.rs b/crates/stages/src/stages/total_difficulty.rs
index 582155182..c23a4d9c9 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stages/total_difficulty.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stages/total_difficulty.rs
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::test_utils::{
         stage_test_suite_ext, ExecuteStageTestRunner, StageTestRunner, TestRunnerError,
-        TestTransaction, UnwindStageTestRunner, PREV_STAGE_ID,
+        TestTransaction, UnwindStageTestRunner,
     };
 
     stage_test_suite_ext!(TotalDifficultyTestRunner, total_difficulty);
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ mod tests {
         runner.set_threshold(threshold);
 
         let first_input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
 
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         // Execute second time
         let second_input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(expected_progress)),
         };
         let result = runner.execute(second_input).await.unwrap();
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ mod tests {
             })?;
 
             // use previous progress as seed size
-            let end = input.previous_stage.map(|(_, num)| num).unwrap_or_default() + 1;
+            let end = input.target.unwrap_or_default() + 1;
 
             if start + 1 >= end {
                 return Ok(Vec::default())
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/stages/tx_lookup.rs b/crates/stages/src/stages/tx_lookup.rs
index ac5aa780f..76b48f359 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/stages/tx_lookup.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/stages/tx_lookup.rs
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::test_utils::{
         stage_test_suite_ext, ExecuteStageTestRunner, StageTestRunner, TestRunnerError,
-        TestTransaction, UnwindStageTestRunner, PREV_STAGE_ID,
+        TestTransaction, UnwindStageTestRunner,
     };
     use assert_matches::assert_matches;
     use reth_interfaces::test_utils::generators::{random_block, random_block_range};
@@ -212,13 +212,13 @@ mod tests {
         // Set up the runner
         let runner = TransactionLookupTestRunner::default();
         let input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
 
         // Insert blocks with a single transaction at block `stage_progress + 10`
         let non_empty_block_number = stage_progress + 10;
-        let blocks = (stage_progress..=input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number())
+        let blocks = (stage_progress..=input.target())
             .map(|number| {
                 random_block(number, None, Some((number == non_empty_block_number) as u8), None)
             })
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ mod tests {
         runner.set_threshold(threshold);
         let (stage_progress, previous_stage) = (1000, 1100); // input exceeds threshold
         let first_input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
         };
 
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Execute second time to completion
         runner.set_threshold(u64::MAX);
         let second_input = ExecInput {
-            previous_stage: Some((PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+            target: Some(previous_stage),
             checkpoint: Some(StageCheckpoint::new(expected_progress)),
         };
         let result = runner.execute(second_input).await.unwrap();
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         fn seed_execution(&mut self, input: ExecInput) -> Result<Self::Seed, TestRunnerError> {
             let stage_progress = input.checkpoint().block_number;
-            let end = input.previous_stage_checkpoint_block_number();
+            let end = input.target();
 
             let blocks = random_block_range(stage_progress + 1..=end, H256::zero(), 0..2);
             self.tx.insert_blocks(blocks.iter(), None)?;
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/test_utils/macros.rs b/crates/stages/src/test_utils/macros.rs
index af7fdab41..f691d1371 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/test_utils/macros.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/test_utils/macros.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ macro_rules! stage_test_suite {
                 // Set up the runner
                 let mut runner = $runner::default();
                 let input = crate::stage::ExecInput {
-                    previous_stage: Some((crate::test_utils::PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+                    target: Some(previous_stage),
                     checkpoint: Some(reth_primitives::stage::StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
                 };
                 let seed = runner.seed_execution(input).expect("failed to seed");
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ macro_rules! stage_test_suite {
                 // Set up the runner
                 let mut runner = $runner::default();
                 let execute_input = crate::stage::ExecInput {
-                    previous_stage: Some((crate::test_utils::PREV_STAGE_ID, previous_stage)),
+                    target: Some(previous_stage),
                     checkpoint: Some(reth_primitives::stage::StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
                 };
                 let seed = runner.seed_execution(execute_input).expect("failed to seed");
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ macro_rules! stage_test_suite_ext {
                 // Set up the runner
                 let mut runner = $runner::default();
                 let input = crate::stage::ExecInput {
-                    previous_stage: Some((crate::test_utils::PREV_STAGE_ID, stage_progress)),
+                    target: Some(stage_progress),
                     checkpoint: Some(reth_primitives::stage::StageCheckpoint::new(stage_progress)),
                 };
                 let seed = runner.seed_execution(input).expect("failed to seed");
diff --git a/crates/stages/src/test_utils/mod.rs b/crates/stages/src/test_utils/mod.rs
index bae39017e..b9fe397a8 100644
--- a/crates/stages/src/test_utils/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/stages/src/test_utils/mod.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,3 @@ pub use set::TestStages;
 
 /// The test stage id
 pub const TEST_STAGE_ID: StageId = StageId::Other("TestStage");
-
-/// The previous test stage id mock used for testing
-pub(crate) const PREV_STAGE_ID: StageId = StageId::Other("PrevStage");
diff --git a/testing/ef-tests/src/cases/blockchain_test.rs b/testing/ef-tests/src/cases/blockchain_test.rs
index 72ee38ae6..ec295bd03 100644
--- a/testing/ef-tests/src/cases/blockchain_test.rs
+++ b/testing/ef-tests/src/cases/blockchain_test.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use crate::{
     Case, Error, Suite,
 };
 use reth_db::mdbx::test_utils::create_test_rw_db;
-use reth_primitives::{stage::StageId, BlockBody, SealedBlock};
+use reth_primitives::{BlockBody, SealedBlock};
 use reth_provider::Transaction;
 use reth_stages::{stages::ExecutionStage, ExecInput, Stage};
 use std::{collections::BTreeMap, ffi::OsStr, fs, ops::Deref, path::Path, sync::Arc};
@@ -104,11 +104,7 @@ impl Case for BlockchainTestCase {
                         let _ = stage
                             .execute(
                                 &mut transaction,
-                                ExecInput {
-                                    previous_stage: last_block
-                                        .map(|b| (StageId::Other("Dummy"), b)),
-                                    checkpoint: None,
-                                },
+                                ExecInput { target: last_block, checkpoint: None },
                             )
                             .await;
                     });