A configuration configuring a UE to establish a connection with one or more candidate relays in preparation of switching to a target
relay from one or more candidate relays. The apparatus receives, from a source
relay, a candidate
relay configuration, the candidate relay configuration including at least information of candidate relays. The apparatus measures a reference
signal of the source relay and each of the candidate relays based on the candidate relay configuration. The apparatus establishes a connection with a subset of candidate relays. The apparatus transmits, to the source relay, a measurement report of the reference
signal of the subset of candidate relays. The apparatus receives, from the source relay, a relay switch command to switch to a target relay from the subset of candidate relays.