diff --git a/supabase/functions/process-selective-approval/index.ts b/supabase/functions/process-selective-approval/index.ts
index f360fbd6..4220d81f 100644
--- a/supabase/functions/process-selective-approval/index.ts
+++ b/supabase/functions/process-selective-approval/index.ts
@@ -359,6 +359,40 @@ serve(withRateLimit(async (req) => {
       throw new Error(`Failed to fetch items: ${fetchError.message}`);
     }
 
+    // Query temporary references for all submission items
+    const { data: tempRefs, error: tempRefsError } = await supabase
+      .from('submission_item_temp_refs')
+      .select('submission_item_id, ref_type, ref_order_index')
+      .in('submission_item_id', itemIds);
+
+    if (tempRefsError) {
+      edgeLogger.warn('Failed to fetch temp refs', {
+        action: 'approval_fetch_temp_refs',
+        submissionId,
+        error: tempRefsError.message,
+        requestId: tracking.requestId
+      });
+      // Don't throw - continue with empty temp refs (backwards compatibility)
+    }
+
+    // Build a map: itemId -> { _temp_operator_ref: 0, _temp_park_ref: 1, ... }
+    const tempRefsByItemId = new Map<string, Record<string, number>>();
+    for (const ref of tempRefs || []) {
+      if (!tempRefsByItemId.has(ref.submission_item_id)) {
+        tempRefsByItemId.set(ref.submission_item_id, {});
+      }
+      const fieldName = `_temp_${ref.ref_type}_ref`;
+      tempRefsByItemId.get(ref.submission_item_id)![fieldName] = ref.ref_order_index;
+    }
+
+    edgeLogger.info('Loaded temp refs', {
+      action: 'approval_temp_refs_loaded',
+      submissionId,
+      itemsWithTempRefs: tempRefsByItemId.size,
+      totalTempRefs: tempRefs?.length || 0,
+      requestId: tracking.requestId
+    });
+
     // Get the submitter's user_id from the submission
     const { data: submission, error: submissionError } = await supabase
       .from('content_submissions')
@@ -423,25 +457,39 @@ serve(withRateLimit(async (req) => {
         let itemData: any;
         switch (item.item_type) {
           case 'park':
-            itemData = (item as any).park_submission;
+            itemData = {
+              ...(item as any).park_submission,
+              // Merge temp refs for this item
+              ...(tempRefsByItemId.get(item.id) || {})
+            };
             break;
           case 'ride':
-            itemData = (item as any).ride_submission;
+            itemData = {
+              ...(item as any).ride_submission,
+              ...(tempRefsByItemId.get(item.id) || {})
+            };
             break;
           case 'manufacturer':
           case 'operator':
           case 'property_owner':
           case 'designer':
-            itemData = (item as any).company_submission;
+            itemData = {
+              ...(item as any).company_submission,
+              ...(tempRefsByItemId.get(item.id) || {})
+            };
             break;
           case 'ride_model':
-            itemData = (item as any).ride_model_submission;
+            itemData = {
+              ...(item as any).ride_model_submission,
+              ...(tempRefsByItemId.get(item.id) || {})
+            };
             break;
           case 'photo':
             // Combine photo_submission with its photo_items array
             itemData = {
               ...(item as any).photo_submission,
-              photos: (item as any).photo_submission?.photo_items || []
+              photos: (item as any).photo_submission?.photo_items || [],
+              ...(tempRefsByItemId.get(item.id) || {})
             };
             break;
           default:
@@ -453,6 +501,17 @@ serve(withRateLimit(async (req) => {
           // Fallback to item_data if relational data not found (for backwards compatibility)
           itemData = item.item_data;
         }
+
+        // Log if temp refs were found for this item
+        if (tempRefsByItemId.has(item.id)) {
+          edgeLogger.info('Item has temp refs', {
+            action: 'approval_item_temp_refs',
+            itemId: item.id,
+            itemType: item.item_type,
+            tempRefs: tempRefsByItemId.get(item.id),
+            requestId: tracking.requestId
+          });
+        }
         
         // Validate entity data with strict validation, passing original_data for edits
         const validation = validateEntityDataStrict(item.item_type, itemData, item.original_data);