Ensure no regressions from #1958.

Author: LukeAVanDrie

pkg/epp/config/loader/configloader_test.go

@@ -201,6 +201,20 @@ func TestInstantiateAndConfigure(t *testing.T) {
 					"Defaults: SingleProfileHandler was not injected")
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name:       "Success - Picker Before Scorer",
+			configText: successPickerBeforeScorerText,
+			wantErr:    false,
+			validate: func(t *testing.T, _ plugins.Handle, cfg *configapi.EndpointPickerConfig) {
+				require.Len(t, cfg.SchedulingProfiles, 1)
+				prof := cfg.SchedulingProfiles[0]
+				require.Equal(t, "test-picker", prof.Plugins[0].PluginRef, "Picker should be the first plugin")
+				require.Equal(t, "test-scorer", prof.Plugins[1].PluginRef, "Scorer should be the second plugin")
+				scorerWeight := prof.Plugins[1].Weight
+				require.NotNil(t, scorerWeight, "Scorer weight should be set (defaulted)")
+				require.Equal(t, 1, *scorerWeight, "Scorer weight should default to 1")
+			},
+		},
 
 		// --- Instantiation Errors ---
 		{

pkg/epp/config/loader/testdata_test.go

@@ -115,6 +115,22 @@ schedulingProfiles:
   - pluginRef: maxScore
 `
 
+// successPickerBeforeScorerText tests the regression case where a Picker appears before a Scorer (without weight) in
+// the plugin list.
+const successPickerBeforeScorerText = `
+apiVersion: inference.networking.x-k8s.io/v1alpha1
+kind: EndpointPickerConfig
+plugins:
+- type: single-profile-handler
+- type: test-picker
+- type: test-scorer
+schedulingProfiles:
+- name: default
+  plugins:
+  - pluginRef: test-picker
+  - pluginRef: test-scorer
+`
+
 // --- Invalid Configurations (Syntax/Structure) ---
 
 // errorBadYamlText contains invalid YAML syntax.