diff --git a/.changeset/hungry-weeks-flash.md b/.changeset/hungry-weeks-flash.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..19cb6cede8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/hungry-weeks-flash.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/backend-tasks': patch
+---
+
+Added a new static `TaskScheduler.forPlugin` method.
diff --git a/.changeset/proud-cobras-chew.md b/.changeset/proud-cobras-chew.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ae08378715
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/proud-cobras-chew.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/backend-test-utils': patch
+---
+
+The backend started by `startTestBackend` now has default implementations of all core services. It now also returns a `TestBackend` instance, which provides access to the underlying `server` that can be used with testing libraries such as `supertest`.
diff --git a/.changeset/shaggy-apricots-camp.md b/.changeset/shaggy-apricots-camp.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..705dcef0f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/shaggy-apricots-camp.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/backend-app-api': patch
+---
+
+Exported the default root HTTP router implementation as `DefaultRootHttpRouter`. It only implements the routing layer and needs to be exposed via an HTTP server similar to the built-in setup in the `rootHttpRouterFactory`.
diff --git a/packages/backend-app-api/api-report.md b/packages/backend-app-api/api-report.md
index a8f077b760..b1356e93e3 100644
--- a/packages/backend-app-api/api-report.md
+++ b/packages/backend-app-api/api-report.md
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { CorsOptions } from 'cors';
 import { ErrorRequestHandler } from 'express';
 import { Express as Express_2 } from 'express';
 import { ExtensionPoint } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { Handler } from 'express';
 import { HelmetOptions } from 'helmet';
 import * as http from 'http';
 import { HttpRouterService } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
@@ -79,6 +80,21 @@ export const databaseFactory: (
   options?: undefined,
 ) => ServiceFactory<PluginDatabaseManager>;
 
+// @public
+export class DefaultRootHttpRouter implements RootHttpRouterService {
+  // (undocumented)
+  static create(options?: DefaultRootHttpRouterOptions): DefaultRootHttpRouter;
+  // (undocumented)
+  handler(): Handler;
+  // (undocumented)
+  use(path: string, handler: Handler): void;
+}
+
+// @public
+export interface DefaultRootHttpRouterOptions {
+  indexPath?: string | false;
+}
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 export const discoveryFactory: (
   options?: undefined,
diff --git a/packages/backend-app-api/package.json b/packages/backend-app-api/package.json
index a6ecb5f455..01eaeaecaf 100644
--- a/packages/backend-app-api/package.json
+++ b/packages/backend-app-api/package.json
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
     "express-promise-router": "^4.1.0",
     "fs-extra": "10.1.0",
     "helmet": "^6.0.0",
+    "lodash": "^4.17.21",
     "minimatch": "^5.0.0",
     "morgan": "^1.10.0",
     "node-forge": "^1.3.1",
diff --git a/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/database/databaseFactory.ts b/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/database/databaseFactory.ts
index f33e825c9b..52cecdbc4d 100644
--- a/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/database/databaseFactory.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/database/databaseFactory.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   coreServices,
   createServiceFactory,
 } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { ConfigReader } from '@backstage/config';
 
 /** @public */
 export const databaseFactory = createServiceFactory({
@@ -28,7 +29,16 @@ export const databaseFactory = createServiceFactory({
     plugin: coreServices.pluginMetadata,
   },
   async factory({ config }) {
-    const databaseManager = DatabaseManager.fromConfig(config);
+    const databaseManager = config.getOptional('backend.database')
+      ? DatabaseManager.fromConfig(config)
+      : DatabaseManager.fromConfig(
+          new ConfigReader({
+            backend: {
+              database: { client: 'better-sqlite3', connection: ':memory:' },
+            },
+          }),
+        );
+
     return async ({ plugin }) => {
       return databaseManager.forPlugin(plugin.getId());
     };
diff --git a/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/RestrictedIndexedRouter.test.ts b/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/DefaultRootHttpRouter.test.ts
similarity index 76%
rename from packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/RestrictedIndexedRouter.test.ts
rename to packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/DefaultRootHttpRouter.test.ts
index b72e87f77b..b72b30e02e 100644
--- a/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/RestrictedIndexedRouter.test.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/DefaultRootHttpRouter.test.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { RestrictedIndexedRouter } from './RestrictedIndexedRouter';
+import { DefaultRootHttpRouter } from './DefaultRootHttpRouter';
 
-describe('RestrictedIndexedRouter', () => {
+describe('DefaultRootHttpRouter', () => {
   it.each([
     [['/b'], '/a'],
     [['/a'], '/aa/b'],
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ describe('RestrictedIndexedRouter', () => {
     [['/b/a'], '/a'],
     [['/a'], '/aa'],
   ])(`with existing paths %s, adds %s without conflict`, (existing, added) => {
-    const router = new RestrictedIndexedRouter(false);
+    const router = DefaultRootHttpRouter.create();
     for (const path of existing) {
       router.use(path, () => {});
     }
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ describe('RestrictedIndexedRouter', () => {
   ])(
     `find conflict when existing paths %s, adds %s`,
     (existing, added, conflict) => {
-      const router = new RestrictedIndexedRouter(false);
+      const router = DefaultRootHttpRouter.create();
       for (const path of existing) {
         router.use(path, () => {});
       }
@@ -48,4 +48,10 @@ describe('RestrictedIndexedRouter', () => {
       );
     },
   );
+
+  it('should not be possible to supply an empty indexPath', () => {
+    expect(() => DefaultRootHttpRouter.create({ indexPath: '' })).toThrow(
+      'indexPath option may not be an empty string',
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/RestrictedIndexedRouter.ts b/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/DefaultRootHttpRouter.ts
similarity index 60%
rename from packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/RestrictedIndexedRouter.ts
rename to packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/DefaultRootHttpRouter.ts
index 961277f34d..0a144af494 100644
--- a/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/RestrictedIndexedRouter.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/DefaultRootHttpRouter.ts
@@ -16,23 +16,59 @@
 
 import { RootHttpRouterService } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { Handler, Router } from 'express';
+import trimEnd from 'lodash/trimEnd';
 
 function normalizePath(path: string): string {
-  return path.replace(/\/*$/, '/');
+  return `${trimEnd(path, '/')}/`;
 }
 
-export class RestrictedIndexedRouter implements RootHttpRouterService {
-  #indexPath?: false | string;
+/**
+ * Options for the {@link DefaultRootHttpRouter} class.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export interface DefaultRootHttpRouterOptions {
+  /**
+   * The path to forward all unmatched requests to. Defaults to '/api/app' if
+   * not given. Disables index path behavior if false is given.
+   */
+  indexPath?: string | false;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The default implementation of the {@link @backstage/backend-plugin-api#RootHttpRouterService} interface for
+ * {@link @backstage/backend-plugin-api#coreServices.rootHttpRouter}.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export class DefaultRootHttpRouter implements RootHttpRouterService {
+  #indexPath?: string;
 
   #router = Router();
   #namedRoutes = Router();
   #indexRouter = Router();
   #existingPaths = new Array<string>();
 
-  constructor(indexPath?: false | string) {
+  static create(options?: DefaultRootHttpRouterOptions) {
+    let indexPath;
+    if (options?.indexPath === false) {
+      indexPath = undefined;
+    } else if (options?.indexPath === undefined) {
+      indexPath = '/api/app';
+    } else if (options?.indexPath === '') {
+      throw new Error('indexPath option may not be an empty string');
+    } else {
+      indexPath = options.indexPath;
+    }
+    return new DefaultRootHttpRouter(indexPath);
+  }
+
+  private constructor(indexPath?: string) {
     this.#indexPath = indexPath;
     this.#router.use(this.#namedRoutes);
-    this.#router.use(this.#indexRouter);
+    if (this.#indexPath) {
+      this.#router.use(this.#indexRouter);
+    }
   }
 
   use(path: string, handler: Handler) {
diff --git a/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/index.ts b/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/index.ts
index 1dfd72273d..e24662df05 100644
--- a/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/index.ts
@@ -14,8 +14,12 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-export { rootHttpRouterFactory } from './rootHttpRouterFactory';
-export type {
-  RootHttpRouterFactoryOptions,
-  RootHttpRouterConfigureOptions,
+export {
+  rootHttpRouterFactory,
+  type RootHttpRouterFactoryOptions,
+  type RootHttpRouterConfigureOptions,
 } from './rootHttpRouterFactory';
+export {
+  DefaultRootHttpRouter,
+  type DefaultRootHttpRouterOptions,
+} from './DefaultRootHttpRouter';
diff --git a/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/rootHttpRouterFactory.ts b/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/rootHttpRouterFactory.ts
index 45cb826b4d..58f8cc2db1 100644
--- a/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/rootHttpRouterFactory.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/rootHttpRouter/rootHttpRouterFactory.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import {
   MiddlewareFactory,
   readHttpServerOptions,
 } from '../../../http';
-import { RestrictedIndexedRouter } from './RestrictedIndexedRouter';
+import { DefaultRootHttpRouter } from './DefaultRootHttpRouter';
 
 /**
  * @public
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ export interface RootHttpRouterConfigureOptions {
  */
 export type RootHttpRouterFactoryOptions = {
   /**
-   * The path to forward all unmatched requests to. Defaults to '/api/app'
+   * The path to forward all unmatched requests to. Defaults to '/api/app' if
+   * not given. Disables index path behavior if false is given.
    */
   indexPath?: string | false;
 
@@ -82,11 +83,10 @@ export const rootHttpRouterFactory = createServiceFactory({
       configure = defaultConfigure,
     }: RootHttpRouterFactoryOptions = {},
   ) {
-    const router = new RestrictedIndexedRouter(indexPath ?? '/api/app');
     const logger = rootLogger.child({ service: 'rootHttpRouter' });
-
     const app = express();
 
+    const router = DefaultRootHttpRouter.create({ indexPath });
     const middleware = MiddlewareFactory.create({ config, logger });
 
     configure({
diff --git a/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/scheduler/schedulerFactory.ts b/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/scheduler/schedulerFactory.ts
index a6edec868a..4e472b78f4 100644
--- a/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/scheduler/schedulerFactory.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-app-api/src/services/implementations/scheduler/schedulerFactory.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
+import { loggerToWinstonLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
 import {
   coreServices,
   createServiceFactory,
@@ -24,13 +25,17 @@ import { TaskScheduler } from '@backstage/backend-tasks';
 export const schedulerFactory = createServiceFactory({
   service: coreServices.scheduler,
   deps: {
-    config: coreServices.config,
     plugin: coreServices.pluginMetadata,
+    databaseManager: coreServices.database,
+    logger: coreServices.logger,
   },
-  async factory({ config }) {
-    const taskScheduler = TaskScheduler.fromConfig(config);
-    return async ({ plugin }) => {
-      return taskScheduler.forPlugin(plugin.getId());
+  async factory() {
+    return async ({ plugin, databaseManager, logger }) => {
+      return TaskScheduler.forPlugin({
+        pluginId: plugin.getId(),
+        databaseManager,
+        logger: loggerToWinstonLogger(logger),
+      });
     };
   },
 });
diff --git a/packages/backend-tasks/api-report.md b/packages/backend-tasks/api-report.md
index f7b4782263..44ec4addbe 100644
--- a/packages/backend-tasks/api-report.md
+++ b/packages/backend-tasks/api-report.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { DatabaseManager } from '@backstage/backend-common';
 import { Duration } from 'luxon';
 import { HumanDuration as HumanDuration_2 } from '@backstage/types';
 import { Logger } from 'winston';
+import { PluginDatabaseManager } from '@backstage/backend-common';
 
 // @public @deprecated
 export type HumanDuration = HumanDuration_2;
@@ -74,6 +75,12 @@ export class TaskScheduler {
   constructor(databaseManager: DatabaseManager, logger: Logger);
   forPlugin(pluginId: string): PluginTaskScheduler;
   // (undocumented)
+  static forPlugin(opts: {
+    pluginId: string;
+    databaseManager: PluginDatabaseManager;
+    logger: Logger;
+  }): PluginTaskScheduler;
+  // (undocumented)
   static fromConfig(
     config: Config,
     options?: {
diff --git a/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/TaskScheduler.ts b/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/TaskScheduler.ts
index f14fb9fc2b..fe81a0054e 100644
--- a/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/TaskScheduler.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/TaskScheduler.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { DatabaseManager, getRootLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import {
+  DatabaseManager,
+  getRootLogger,
+  PluginDatabaseManager,
+} from '@backstage/backend-common';
 import { Config } from '@backstage/config';
 import { once } from 'lodash';
 import { Duration } from 'luxon';
@@ -57,27 +61,35 @@ export class TaskScheduler {
    * @returns A {@link PluginTaskScheduler} instance
    */
   forPlugin(pluginId: string): PluginTaskScheduler {
-    const databaseFactory = once(async () => {
-      const databaseManager = this.databaseManager.forPlugin(pluginId);
-      const knex = await databaseManager.getClient();
+    return TaskScheduler.forPlugin({
+      pluginId,
+      databaseManager: this.databaseManager.forPlugin(pluginId),
+      logger: this.logger,
+    });
+  }
 
-      if (!databaseManager.migrations?.skip) {
+  static forPlugin(opts: {
+    pluginId: string;
+    databaseManager: PluginDatabaseManager;
+    logger: Logger;
+  }): PluginTaskScheduler {
+    const databaseFactory = once(async () => {
+      const knex = await opts.databaseManager.getClient();
+
+      if (!opts.databaseManager.migrations?.skip) {
         await migrateBackendTasks(knex);
       }
 
       const janitor = new PluginTaskSchedulerJanitor({
         knex,
         waitBetweenRuns: Duration.fromObject({ minutes: 1 }),
-        logger: this.logger,
+        logger: opts.logger,
       });
       janitor.start();
 
       return knex;
     });
 
-    return new PluginTaskSchedulerImpl(
-      databaseFactory,
-      this.logger.child({ plugin: pluginId }),
-    );
+    return new PluginTaskSchedulerImpl(databaseFactory, opts.logger);
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/api-report.md b/packages/backend-test-utils/api-report.md
index 3df3f3cb21..85cdb201ef 100644
--- a/packages/backend-test-utils/api-report.md
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/api-report.md
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@
 ```ts
 import { Backend } from '@backstage/backend-app-api';
 import { BackendFeature } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { ConfigService } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { ExtendedHttpServer } from '@backstage/backend-app-api';
 import { ExtensionPoint } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { JsonObject } from '@backstage/types';
 import { Knex } from 'knex';
 import { ServiceFactory } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { ServiceRef } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
@@ -13,6 +16,15 @@ import { ServiceRef } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 // @public (undocumented)
 export function isDockerDisabledForTests(): boolean;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+export const mockConfigFactory: (
+  options?:
+    | {
+        data?: JsonObject | undefined;
+      }
+    | undefined,
+) => ServiceFactory<ConfigService>;
+
 // @public
 export function setupRequestMockHandlers(worker: {
   listen: (t: any) => void;
@@ -24,7 +36,14 @@ export function setupRequestMockHandlers(worker: {
 export function startTestBackend<
   TServices extends any[],
   TExtensionPoints extends any[],
->(options: TestBackendOptions<TServices, TExtensionPoints>): Promise<Backend>;
+>(
+  options: TestBackendOptions<TServices, TExtensionPoints>,
+): Promise<TestBackend>;
+
+// @alpha (undocumented)
+export interface TestBackend extends Backend {
+  readonly server: ExtendedHttpServer;
+}
 
 // @alpha (undocumented)
 export interface TestBackendOptions<
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/package.json b/packages/backend-test-utils/package.json
index 38db9d6413..725be0d905 100644
--- a/packages/backend-test-utils/package.json
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/package.json
@@ -39,7 +39,10 @@
     "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/config": "workspace:^",
+    "@backstage/types": "workspace:^",
     "better-sqlite3": "^8.0.0",
+    "express": "^4.17.1",
+    "express-promise-router": "^4.1.0",
     "knex": "^2.0.0",
     "msw": "^0.49.0",
     "mysql2": "^2.2.5",
@@ -48,7 +51,9 @@
     "uuid": "^8.0.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^"
+    "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^",
+    "@types/supertest": "^2.0.8",
+    "supertest": "^6.1.3"
   },
   "files": [
     "dist",
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/implementations/index.ts b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/implementations/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..55f417f8df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/implementations/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+export { mockConfigFactory } from './mockConfigService';
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/implementations/mockConfigService.ts b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/implementations/mockConfigService.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..78a670585d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/implementations/mockConfigService.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2022 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import {
+  coreServices,
+  createServiceFactory,
+} from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { ConfigReader } from '@backstage/config';
+import { JsonObject } from '@backstage/types';
+
+/** @public */
+export const mockConfigFactory = createServiceFactory({
+  service: coreServices.config,
+  deps: {},
+  async factory(_, options?: { data?: JsonObject }) {
+    return new ConfigReader(options?.data, 'mock-config');
+  },
+});
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/implementations/mockTokenManagerService.ts b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/implementations/mockTokenManagerService.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dd1d6b16f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/implementations/mockTokenManagerService.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+import { TokenManager } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import {
+  coreServices,
+  createServiceFactory,
+} from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+
+class TokenManagerMock implements TokenManager {
+  async getToken(): Promise<{ token: string }> {
+    return { token: 'mock-token' };
+  }
+  async authenticate(token: string): Promise<void> {
+    if (token !== 'mock-token') {
+      throw new Error('Invalid token');
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+export const mockTokenManagerFactory = createServiceFactory({
+  service: coreServices.tokenManager,
+  deps: {},
+  async factory() {
+    return async () => {
+      return new TokenManagerMock();
+    };
+  },
+});
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/index.ts b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/index.ts
index 9bb5431772..9f9edfd837 100644
--- a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/index.ts
@@ -15,3 +15,4 @@
  */
 
 export * from './wiring';
+export * from './implementations';
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.test.ts b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.test.ts
index 5ea37e9106..6358051c34 100644
--- a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.test.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.test.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@ import {
   createServiceFactory,
   createServiceRef,
   coreServices,
+  createBackendPlugin,
 } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { Router } from 'express';
+import request from 'supertest';
+
 import { startTestBackend } from './TestBackend';
 
 // This bit makes sure that test backends are cleaned up properly
@@ -156,4 +160,66 @@ describe('TestBackend', () => {
     await backend.stop();
     expect(shutdownSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
+
+  it('should provide a set of default services', async () => {
+    expect.assertions(2);
+
+    const testPlugin = createBackendPlugin({
+      id: 'test',
+      register(env) {
+        env.registerInit({
+          deps: {
+            cache: coreServices.cache,
+            config: coreServices.config,
+            database: coreServices.database,
+            discovery: coreServices.discovery,
+            httpRouter: coreServices.httpRouter,
+            lifecycle: coreServices.lifecycle,
+            logger: coreServices.logger,
+            permissions: coreServices.permissions,
+            pluginMetadata: coreServices.pluginMetadata,
+            rootHttpRouter: coreServices.rootHttpRouter,
+            rootLifecycle: coreServices.rootLifecycle,
+            rootLogger: coreServices.rootLogger,
+            scheduler: coreServices.scheduler,
+            tokenManager: coreServices.tokenManager,
+            urlReader: coreServices.urlReader,
+          },
+          async init(deps) {
+            expect(Object.keys(deps)).toHaveLength(15);
+            expect(Object.values(deps)).not.toContain(undefined);
+          },
+        });
+      },
+    });
+
+    await startTestBackend({
+      services: [],
+      features: [testPlugin()],
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('should allow making requests via supertest', async () => {
+    const testPlugin = createBackendPlugin({
+      id: 'test',
+      register(env) {
+        env.registerInit({
+          deps: {
+            httpRouter: coreServices.httpRouter,
+          },
+          async init({ httpRouter }) {
+            const router = Router();
+            router.use('/ping-me', (_, res) => res.json({ message: 'pong' }));
+            httpRouter.use(router);
+          },
+        });
+      },
+    });
+
+    const { server } = await startTestBackend({ features: [testPlugin()] });
+
+    const res = await request(server).get('/api/test/ping-me');
+    expect(res.status).toEqual(200);
+    expect(res.body).toEqual({ message: 'pong' });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.ts b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.ts
index 0295332855..8fe489750a 100644
--- a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.ts
@@ -21,15 +21,32 @@ import {
   rootLifecycleFactory,
   loggerFactory,
   rootLoggerFactory,
+  cacheFactory,
+  permissionsFactory,
+  schedulerFactory,
+  urlReaderFactory,
+  databaseFactory,
+  httpRouterFactory,
+  MiddlewareFactory,
+  createHttpServer,
+  ExtendedHttpServer,
+  DefaultRootHttpRouter,
 } from '@backstage/backend-app-api';
+import { SingleHostDiscovery } from '@backstage/backend-common';
 import {
   ServiceFactory,
   ServiceRef,
   createServiceFactory,
   BackendFeature,
   ExtensionPoint,
+  coreServices,
 } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 
+import { mockConfigFactory } from '../implementations/mockConfigService';
+import { mockTokenManagerFactory } from '../implementations/mockTokenManagerService';
+import { ConfigReader } from '@backstage/config';
+import express from 'express';
+
 /** @alpha */
 export interface TestBackendOptions<
   TServices extends any[],
@@ -54,11 +71,30 @@ export interface TestBackendOptions<
   features?: BackendFeature[];
 }
 
+/** @alpha */
+export interface TestBackend extends Backend {
+  /**
+   * Provides access to the underling HTTP server for use with utilities
+   * such as `supertest`.
+   *
+   * If the root http router service has been replaced, this will throw an error.
+   */
+  readonly server: ExtendedHttpServer;
+}
+
 const defaultServiceFactories = [
-  rootLoggerFactory(),
-  loggerFactory(),
+  cacheFactory(),
+  databaseFactory(),
+  httpRouterFactory(),
   lifecycleFactory(),
+  loggerFactory(),
+  mockConfigFactory(),
+  mockTokenManagerFactory(),
+  permissionsFactory(),
   rootLifecycleFactory(),
+  rootLoggerFactory(),
+  schedulerFactory(),
+  urlReaderFactory(),
 ];
 
 const backendInstancesToCleanUp = new Array<Backend>();
@@ -67,7 +103,9 @@ const backendInstancesToCleanUp = new Array<Backend>();
 export async function startTestBackend<
   TServices extends any[],
   TExtensionPoints extends any[],
->(options: TestBackendOptions<TServices, TExtensionPoints>): Promise<Backend> {
+>(
+  options: TestBackendOptions<TServices, TExtensionPoints>,
+): Promise<TestBackend> {
   const {
     services = [],
     extensionPoints = [],
@@ -75,6 +113,65 @@ export async function startTestBackend<
     ...otherOptions
   } = options;
 
+  let server: ExtendedHttpServer;
+
+  const rootHttpRouterFactory = createServiceFactory({
+    service: coreServices.rootHttpRouter,
+    deps: {
+      config: coreServices.config,
+      lifecycle: coreServices.rootLifecycle,
+      rootLogger: coreServices.rootLogger,
+    },
+    async factory({ config, lifecycle, rootLogger }) {
+      const router = DefaultRootHttpRouter.create();
+      const logger = rootLogger.child({ service: 'rootHttpRouter' });
+
+      const app = express();
+
+      const middleware = MiddlewareFactory.create({ config, logger });
+
+      app.use(router.handler());
+      app.use(middleware.notFound());
+      app.use(middleware.error());
+
+      server = await createHttpServer(
+        app,
+        { listen: { host: '', port: 0 } },
+        { logger },
+      );
+
+      lifecycle.addShutdownHook({
+        async fn() {
+          await server.stop();
+        },
+        logger,
+      });
+
+      await server.start();
+
+      return router;
+    },
+  });
+
+  const discoveryFactory = createServiceFactory({
+    service: coreServices.discovery,
+    deps: {
+      rootHttpRouter: coreServices.rootHttpRouter,
+    },
+    async factory() {
+      if (!server) {
+        throw new Error('Test server not started yet');
+      }
+      const port = server.port();
+      const discovery = SingleHostDiscovery.fromConfig(
+        new ConfigReader({
+          backend: { baseUrl: `http://localhost:${port}`, listen: { port } },
+        }),
+      );
+      return async () => discovery;
+    },
+  });
+
   const factories = services.map(serviceDef => {
     if (Array.isArray(serviceDef)) {
       // if type is ExtensionPoint?
@@ -107,7 +204,7 @@ export async function startTestBackend<
 
   const backend = createSpecializedBackend({
     ...otherOptions,
-    services: factories,
+    services: [...factories, rootHttpRouterFactory, discoveryFactory],
   });
 
   backendInstancesToCleanUp.push(backend);
@@ -129,7 +226,14 @@ export async function startTestBackend<
 
   await backend.start();
 
-  return backend;
+  return Object.assign(backend, {
+    get server() {
+      if (!server) {
+        throw new Error('TestBackend server is not available');
+      }
+      return server;
+    },
+  });
 }
 
 let registered = false;
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/index.ts b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/index.ts
index eb7b773e33..7c39474d4c 100644
--- a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/index.ts
@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@
  */
 
 export { startTestBackend } from './TestBackend';
-export type { TestBackendOptions } from './TestBackend';
+export type { TestBackend, TestBackendOptions } from './TestBackend';
diff --git a/plugins/app-backend/package.json b/plugins/app-backend/package.json
index 1f58f64796..d5fbf9f239 100644
--- a/plugins/app-backend/package.json
+++ b/plugins/app-backend/package.json
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/types": "workspace:^",
     "@types/supertest": "^2.0.8",
-    "get-port": "^6.1.2",
     "mock-fs": "^5.1.0",
     "msw": "^0.49.0",
     "node-fetch": "^2.6.7",
diff --git a/plugins/app-backend/src/service/appPlugin.test.ts b/plugins/app-backend/src/service/appPlugin.test.ts
index 80408694d6..7c57a5d685 100644
--- a/plugins/app-backend/src/service/appPlugin.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/app-backend/src/service/appPlugin.test.ts
@@ -17,18 +17,14 @@
 import mockFs from 'mock-fs';
 import { resolve as resolvePath } from 'path';
 import fetch from 'node-fetch';
-import { coreServices } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { startTestBackend } from '@backstage/backend-test-utils';
 import { appPlugin } from './appPlugin';
 import {
   databaseFactory,
   httpRouterFactory,
-  rootHttpRouterFactory,
   loggerFactory,
   rootLoggerFactory,
 } from '@backstage/backend-app-api';
-import { ConfigReader } from '@backstage/config';
-import getPort from 'get-port';
 
 describe('appPlugin', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -48,23 +44,12 @@ describe('appPlugin', () => {
   });
 
   it('boots', async () => {
-    const port = await getPort();
-    await startTestBackend({
+    const { server } = await startTestBackend({
       services: [
-        [
-          coreServices.config,
-          new ConfigReader({
-            backend: {
-              listen: { port },
-              database: { client: 'better-sqlite3', connection: ':memory:' },
-            },
-          }),
-        ],
         loggerFactory(),
         rootLoggerFactory(),
         databaseFactory(),
         httpRouterFactory(),
-        rootHttpRouterFactory(),
       ],
       features: [
         appPlugin({
@@ -75,12 +60,12 @@ describe('appPlugin', () => {
     });
 
     await expect(
-      fetch(`http://localhost:${port}/api/app/derp.html`).then(res =>
+      fetch(`http://localhost:${server.port()}/api/app/derp.html`).then(res =>
         res.text(),
       ),
     ).resolves.toBe('winning');
     await expect(
-      fetch(`http://localhost:${port}`).then(res => res.text()),
+      fetch(`http://localhost:${server.port()}`).then(res => res.text()),
     ).resolves.toBe('winning');
   });
 });
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-backend-module-bitbucket-cloud/src/service/BitbucketCloudEntityProviderCatalogModule.test.ts b/plugins/catalog-backend-module-bitbucket-cloud/src/service/BitbucketCloudEntityProviderCatalogModule.test.ts
index 83e657bcfe..d44281600c 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog-backend-module-bitbucket-cloud/src/service/BitbucketCloudEntityProviderCatalogModule.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/catalog-backend-module-bitbucket-cloud/src/service/BitbucketCloudEntityProviderCatalogModule.test.ts
@@ -14,18 +14,15 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { ConfigReader } from '@backstage/config';
-import {
-  getVoidLogger,
-  PluginEndpointDiscovery,
-  TokenManager,
-} from '@backstage/backend-common';
 import { coreServices } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import {
   PluginTaskScheduler,
   TaskScheduleDefinition,
 } from '@backstage/backend-tasks';
-import { startTestBackend } from '@backstage/backend-test-utils';
+import {
+  startTestBackend,
+  mockConfigFactory,
+} from '@backstage/backend-test-utils';
 import { catalogProcessingExtensionPoint } from '@backstage/plugin-catalog-node';
 import { eventsExtensionPoint } from '@backstage/plugin-events-node';
 import { Duration } from 'luxon';
@@ -55,22 +52,6 @@ describe('bitbucketCloudEntityProviderCatalogModule', () => {
         return runner;
       },
     } as unknown as PluginTaskScheduler;
-    const discovery = jest.fn() as any as PluginEndpointDiscovery;
-    const tokenManager = jest.fn() as any as TokenManager;
-
-    const config = new ConfigReader({
-      catalog: {
-        providers: {
-          bitbucketCloud: {
-            schedule: {
-              frequency: 'P1M',
-              timeout: 'PT3M',
-            },
-            workspace: 'test-ws',
-          },
-        },
-      },
-    });
 
     await startTestBackend({
       extensionPoints: [
@@ -78,11 +59,22 @@ describe('bitbucketCloudEntityProviderCatalogModule', () => {
         [eventsExtensionPoint, eventsExtensionPointImpl],
       ],
       services: [
-        [coreServices.config, config],
-        [coreServices.discovery, discovery],
-        [coreServices.logger, getVoidLogger()],
+        mockConfigFactory({
+          data: {
+            catalog: {
+              providers: {
+                bitbucketCloud: {
+                  schedule: {
+                    frequency: 'P1M',
+                    timeout: 'PT3M',
+                  },
+                  workspace: 'test-ws',
+                },
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        }),
         [coreServices.scheduler, scheduler],
-        [coreServices.tokenManager, tokenManager],
       ],
       features: [bitbucketCloudEntityProviderCatalogModule()],
     });
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-backend-module-incremental-ingestion/package.json b/plugins/catalog-backend-module-incremental-ingestion/package.json
index 06a0ab1c89..a86e27fae4 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog-backend-module-incremental-ingestion/package.json
+++ b/plugins/catalog-backend-module-incremental-ingestion/package.json
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@
   "devDependencies": {
     "@backstage/backend-app-api": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^",
-    "@backstage/plugin-catalog-backend": "workspace:^",
-    "get-port": "^6.1.2"
+    "@backstage/plugin-catalog-backend": "workspace:^"
   },
   "files": [
     "alpha",
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-node/src/catalogService.test.ts b/plugins/catalog-node/src/catalogService.test.ts
index 230af79a88..ec3e5ccf1b 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog-node/src/catalogService.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/catalog-node/src/catalogService.test.ts
@@ -14,11 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { PluginEndpointDiscovery } from '@backstage/backend-common';
-import {
-  createBackendModule,
-  coreServices,
-} from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { createBackendModule } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { startTestBackend } from '@backstage/backend-test-utils';
 import { CatalogClient } from '@backstage/catalog-client';
 import { catalogServiceRef } from './catalogService';
@@ -42,9 +38,6 @@ describe('catalogServiceRef', () => {
     });
 
     await startTestBackend({
-      services: [
-        [coreServices.discovery, {} as unknown as PluginEndpointDiscovery],
-      ],
       features: [testModule()],
     });
   });
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 14835db18d..96c319f937 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -3400,6 +3400,7 @@ __metadata:
     fs-extra: 10.1.0
     helmet: ^6.0.0
     http-errors: ^2.0.0
+    lodash: ^4.17.21
     minimatch: ^5.0.0
     morgan: ^1.10.0
     node-forge: ^1.3.1
@@ -3558,11 +3559,16 @@ __metadata:
     "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/config": "workspace:^"
+    "@backstage/types": "workspace:^"
+    "@types/supertest": ^2.0.8
     better-sqlite3: ^8.0.0
+    express: ^4.17.1
+    express-promise-router: ^4.1.0
     knex: ^2.0.0
     msw: ^0.49.0
     mysql2: ^2.2.5
     pg: ^8.3.0
+    supertest: ^6.1.3
     testcontainers: ^8.1.2
     uuid: ^8.0.0
   languageName: unknown
@@ -4513,7 +4519,6 @@ __metadata:
     express: ^4.17.1
     express-promise-router: ^4.1.0
     fs-extra: 10.1.0
-    get-port: ^6.1.2
     globby: ^11.0.0
     helmet: ^6.0.0
     knex: ^2.0.0
@@ -5112,7 +5117,6 @@ __metadata:
     "@types/luxon": ^3.0.0
     express: ^4.17.1
     express-promise-router: ^4.1.0
-    get-port: ^6.1.2
     knex: ^2.0.0
     lodash: ^4.17.21
     luxon: ^3.0.0
@@ -23809,13 +23813,6 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
-"get-port@npm:^6.1.2":
-  version: 6.1.2
-  resolution: "get-port@npm:6.1.2"
-  checksum: e3c3d591492a11393455ef220f24c812a28f7da56ec3e4a2512d931a1f196d42850b50ac6138349a44622eda6dc3c0ccd8495cd91376d968e2d9e6f6f849e0a9
-  languageName: node
-  linkType: hard
-
 "get-stdin@npm:^8.0.0":
   version: 8.0.0
   resolution: "get-stdin@npm:8.0.0"