diff --git a/ax/modelbridge/transforms/tests/test_transform_to_new_sq.py b/ax/modelbridge/transforms/tests/test_transform_to_new_sq.py
index d7c2e8d706a..104145a9978 100644
--- a/ax/modelbridge/transforms/tests/test_transform_to_new_sq.py
+++ b/ax/modelbridge/transforms/tests/test_transform_to_new_sq.py
@@ -68,11 +68,14 @@ def setUp(self) -> None:
         t.mark_completed()
         self.data = self.exp.fetch_data()
 
+        self._refresh_modelbridge()
+
+    def _refresh_modelbridge(self) -> None:
         self.modelbridge = ModelBridge(
             search_space=self.exp.search_space,
             model=Model(),
             experiment=self.exp,
-            data=self.data,
+            data=self.exp.lookup_data(),
             status_quo_name="status_quo",
         )
 
@@ -139,14 +142,16 @@ def test_single_trial_is_not_transformed(self) -> None:
         obs2 = tf.transform_observations(obs)
         self.assertEqual(obs, obs2)
 
-    def test_taget_trial_index(self) -> None:
+    def test_target_trial_index(self) -> None:
         sobol = get_sobol(search_space=self.exp.search_space)
-        self.exp.new_batch_trial(generator_run=sobol.gen(2))
+        self.exp.new_batch_trial(generator_run=sobol.gen(2), optimize_for_power=True)
         t = self.exp.trials[1]
         t = checked_cast(BatchTrial, t)
         t.mark_running(no_runner_required=True)
         self.exp.attach_data(get_branin_data_batch(batch=checked_cast(BatchTrial, t)))
 
+        self._refresh_modelbridge()
+
         observations = observations_from_data(
             experiment=self.exp,
             data=self.exp.lookup_data(),
@@ -157,17 +162,4 @@ def test_taget_trial_index(self) -> None:
             observations=observations,
             modelbridge=self.modelbridge,
         )
-
         self.assertEqual(t.default_trial_idx, 1)
-
-        with mock.patch(
-            "ax.modelbridge.transforms.transform_to_new_sq.get_target_trial_index",
-            return_value=10,
-        ):
-            t = TransformToNewSQ(
-                search_space=self.exp.search_space,
-                observations=observations,
-                modelbridge=self.modelbridge,
-            )
-
-        self.assertEqual(t.default_trial_idx, 10)
diff --git a/ax/modelbridge/transforms/transform_to_new_sq.py b/ax/modelbridge/transforms/transform_to_new_sq.py
index fb4f11e9e58..a4880095bf1 100644
--- a/ax/modelbridge/transforms/transform_to_new_sq.py
+++ b/ax/modelbridge/transforms/transform_to_new_sq.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 from ax.core.optimization_config import OptimizationConfig
 from ax.core.outcome_constraint import OutcomeConstraint
 from ax.core.search_space import SearchSpace
-from ax.core.utils import get_target_trial_index
 from ax.modelbridge.transforms.relativize import BaseRelativize, get_metric_index
 from ax.models.types import TConfig
 from ax.utils.common.typeutils import checked_cast
@@ -71,9 +70,7 @@ def __init__(
             and modelbridge is not None
             and modelbridge._experiment is not None
         ):
-            target_trial_index = get_target_trial_index(
-                experiment=modelbridge._experiment
-            )
+            target_trial_index = max(self.status_quo_data_by_trial.keys())
 
         if target_trial_index is not None:
             self.default_trial_idx: int = checked_cast(int, target_trial_index)