diff --git a/BUILD.bazel b/BUILD.bazel
index 3a635a948..ef4507940 100644
--- a/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/BUILD.bazel
@@ -405,6 +405,16 @@ cc_binary(
     ],
 )
 
+cc_test(
+    name = "direct_actor_transport_test",
+    srcs = ["src/ray/core_worker/test/direct_actor_transport_test.cc"],
+    copts = COPTS,
+    deps = [
+        ":core_worker_lib",
+        "@com_google_googletest//:gtest_main",
+    ],
+)
+
 cc_test(
     name = "direct_task_transport_test",
     srcs = ["src/ray/core_worker/test/direct_task_transport_test.cc"],
diff --git a/python/ray/tests/test_basic.py b/python/ray/tests/test_basic.py
index 401ebc0f5..1ce5bf856 100644
--- a/python/ray/tests/test_basic.py
+++ b/python/ray/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -1349,6 +1349,31 @@ def test_direct_actor_enabled(ray_start_regular):
     assert ray.get(obj_id) == 2
 
 
+def test_direct_actor_order(shutdown_only):
+    ray.init(num_cpus=4)
+
+    @ray.remote
+    def small_value():
+        time.sleep(0.01 * np.random.randint(0, 10))
+        return 0
+
+    @ray.remote
+    class Actor(object):
+        def __init__(self):
+            self.count = 0
+
+        def inc(self, count, dependency):
+            assert count == self.count
+            self.count += 1
+            return count
+
+    a = Actor._remote(is_direct_call=True)
+    assert ray.get([
+        a.inc.remote(i, small_value.options(is_direct_call=True).remote())
+        for i in range(100)
+    ]) == list(range(100))
+
+
 def test_direct_actor_large_objects(ray_start_regular):
     @ray.remote
     class Actor(object):
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/common.h b/src/ray/core_worker/common.h
index ebcc1f831..60fc373f9 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/common.h
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/common.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "ray/util/util.h"
 
 namespace ray {
+
 using WorkerType = rpc::WorkerType;
 
 // Return a string representation of the worker type.
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/core_worker.cc b/src/ray/core_worker/core_worker.cc
index 5e424363a..36f58150e 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/core_worker.cc
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/core_worker.cc
@@ -62,37 +62,6 @@ void GroupObjectIdsByStoreProvider(const std::vector<ObjectID> &object_ids,
 
 namespace ray {
 
-// Prepare direct call args for sending to a direct call *actor*. Direct call actors
-// always resolve their dependencies remotely, so we need some client-side preprocessing
-// to ensure they don't try to resolve a direct call object ID remotely (which is
-// impossible).
-//  - Direct call args that are local and small will be inlined.
-//  - Direct call args that are non-local or large will be promoted to plasma.
-// Note that args for direct call *tasks* are handled by LocalDependencyResolver.
-std::vector<TaskArg> PrepareDirectActorCallArgs(
-    const std::vector<TaskArg> &args,
-    std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStore> memory_store) {
-  std::vector<TaskArg> out;
-  for (const auto &arg : args) {
-    if (arg.IsPassedByReference() && arg.GetReference().IsDirectCallType()) {
-      const ObjectID &obj_id = arg.GetReference();
-      // TODO(ekl) we should consider resolving these dependencies on the client side
-      // for actor calls. It is a little tricky since we have to also preserve the
-      // task ordering so we can't simply use LocalDependencyResolver.
-      std::shared_ptr<RayObject> obj = memory_store->GetOrPromoteToPlasma(obj_id);
-      if (obj != nullptr) {
-        out.push_back(TaskArg::PassByValue(obj));
-      } else {
-        out.push_back(TaskArg::PassByReference(
-            obj_id.WithTransportType(TaskTransportType::RAYLET)));
-      }
-    } else {
-      out.push_back(arg);
-    }
-  }
-  return out;
-}
-
 CoreWorker::CoreWorker(const WorkerType worker_type, const Language language,
                        const std::string &store_socket, const std::string &raylet_socket,
                        const JobID &job_id, const gcs::GcsClientOptions &gcs_options,
@@ -221,17 +190,16 @@ CoreWorker::CoreWorker(const WorkerType worker_type, const Language language,
     SetCurrentTaskId(task_id);
   }
 
+  auto client_factory = [this](const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr) {
+    return std::shared_ptr<rpc::CoreWorkerClient>(
+        new rpc::CoreWorkerClient(addr.first, addr.second, *client_call_manager_));
+  };
   direct_actor_submitter_ = std::unique_ptr<CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter>(
-      new CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter(*client_call_manager_,
-                                             memory_store_provider_));
+      new CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter(client_factory, memory_store_provider_));
 
   direct_task_submitter_ =
       std::unique_ptr<CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter>(new CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter(
-          raylet_client_,
-          [this](WorkerAddress addr) {
-            return std::shared_ptr<rpc::CoreWorkerClient>(new rpc::CoreWorkerClient(
-                addr.first, addr.second, *client_call_manager_));
-          },
+          raylet_client_, client_factory,
           [this](const rpc::Address &address) {
             auto grpc_client = rpc::NodeManagerWorkerClient::make(
                 address.ip_address(), address.port(), *client_call_manager_);
@@ -657,11 +625,10 @@ Status CoreWorker::SubmitActorTask(const ActorID &actor_id, const RayFunction &f
   const TaskID actor_task_id = TaskID::ForActorTask(
       worker_context_.GetCurrentJobID(), worker_context_.GetCurrentTaskID(),
       next_task_index, actor_handle->GetActorID());
-  BuildCommonTaskSpec(
-      builder, actor_handle->CreationJobID(), actor_task_id,
-      worker_context_.GetCurrentTaskID(), next_task_index, GetCallerId(), rpc_address_,
-      function, is_direct_call ? PrepareDirectActorCallArgs(args, memory_store_) : args,
-      num_returns, task_options.resources, {}, transport_type, return_ids);
+  BuildCommonTaskSpec(builder, actor_handle->CreationJobID(), actor_task_id,
+                      worker_context_.GetCurrentTaskID(), next_task_index, GetCallerId(),
+                      rpc_address_, function, args, num_returns, task_options.resources,
+                      {}, transport_type, return_ids);
 
   const ObjectID new_cursor = return_ids->back();
   actor_handle->SetActorTaskSpec(builder, transport_type, new_cursor);
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/test/direct_actor_transport_test.cc b/src/ray/core_worker/test/direct_actor_transport_test.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0a8707f07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/test/direct_actor_transport_test.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+#include "gtest/gtest.h"
+
+#include "ray/common/task/task_spec.h"
+#include "ray/core_worker/store_provider/memory_store/memory_store.h"
+#include "ray/core_worker/store_provider/memory_store_provider.h"
+#include "ray/core_worker/transport/direct_task_transport.h"
+#include "ray/raylet/raylet_client.h"
+#include "ray/rpc/worker/core_worker_client.h"
+#include "src/ray/util/test_util.h"
+
+namespace ray {
+
+class MockWorkerClient : public rpc::CoreWorkerClientInterface {
+ public:
+  ray::Status PushActorTask(
+      std::unique_ptr<rpc::PushTaskRequest> request,
+      const rpc::ClientCallback<rpc::PushTaskReply> &callback) override {
+    RAY_CHECK(counter == request->task_spec().actor_task_spec().actor_counter());
+    counter++;
+    callbacks.push_back(callback);
+    return Status::OK();
+  }
+
+  std::vector<rpc::ClientCallback<rpc::PushTaskReply>> callbacks;
+  uint64_t counter = 0;
+};
+
+TaskSpecification CreateActorTaskHelper(ActorID actor_id, int64_t counter) {
+  TaskSpecification task;
+  task.GetMutableMessage().set_task_id(TaskID::Nil().Binary());
+  task.GetMutableMessage().set_type(TaskType::ACTOR_TASK);
+  task.GetMutableMessage().mutable_actor_task_spec()->set_actor_id(actor_id.Binary());
+  task.GetMutableMessage().mutable_actor_task_spec()->set_actor_counter(counter);
+  return task;
+}
+
+class DirectActorTransportTest : public ::testing::Test {
+ public:
+  DirectActorTransportTest()
+      : worker_client_(std::shared_ptr<MockWorkerClient>(new MockWorkerClient())),
+        ptr_(std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStore>(new CoreWorkerMemoryStore())),
+        store_(std::make_shared<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider>(ptr_)),
+        submitter_([&](const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr) { return worker_client_; },
+                   store_) {}
+
+  std::shared_ptr<MockWorkerClient> worker_client_;
+  std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStore> ptr_;
+  std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider> store_;
+  CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter submitter_;
+};
+
+TEST_F(DirectActorTransportTest, TestSubmitTask) {
+  ActorID actor_id = ActorID::Of(JobID::FromInt(0), TaskID::Nil(), 0);
+
+  auto task = CreateActorTaskHelper(actor_id, 0);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(submitter_.SubmitTask(task).ok());
+  ASSERT_EQ(worker_client_->callbacks.size(), 0);
+
+  gcs::ActorTableData actor_data;
+  submitter_.HandleActorUpdate(actor_id, actor_data);
+  ASSERT_EQ(worker_client_->callbacks.size(), 1);
+
+  task = CreateActorTaskHelper(actor_id, 1);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(submitter_.SubmitTask(task).ok());
+  ASSERT_EQ(worker_client_->callbacks.size(), 2);
+}
+
+TEST_F(DirectActorTransportTest, TestDependencies) {
+  ActorID actor_id = ActorID::Of(JobID::FromInt(0), TaskID::Nil(), 0);
+  gcs::ActorTableData actor_data;
+  submitter_.HandleActorUpdate(actor_id, actor_data);
+  ASSERT_EQ(worker_client_->callbacks.size(), 0);
+
+  // Create two tasks for the actor with different arguments.
+  ObjectID obj1 = ObjectID::FromRandom().WithTransportType(TaskTransportType::DIRECT);
+  ObjectID obj2 = ObjectID::FromRandom().WithTransportType(TaskTransportType::DIRECT);
+  auto task1 = CreateActorTaskHelper(actor_id, 0);
+  task1.GetMutableMessage().add_args()->add_object_ids(obj1.Binary());
+  auto task2 = CreateActorTaskHelper(actor_id, 1);
+  task2.GetMutableMessage().add_args()->add_object_ids(obj2.Binary());
+
+  // Neither task can be submitted yet because they are still waiting on
+  // dependencies.
+  ASSERT_TRUE(submitter_.SubmitTask(task1).ok());
+  ASSERT_TRUE(submitter_.SubmitTask(task2).ok());
+  ASSERT_EQ(worker_client_->callbacks.size(), 0);
+
+  // Put the dependencies in the store in the same order as task submission.
+  auto data = GenerateRandomObject();
+  ASSERT_TRUE(store_->Put(*data, obj1).ok());
+  ASSERT_EQ(worker_client_->callbacks.size(), 1);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(store_->Put(*data, obj2).ok());
+  ASSERT_EQ(worker_client_->callbacks.size(), 2);
+}
+
+TEST_F(DirectActorTransportTest, TestOutOfOrderDependencies) {
+  ActorID actor_id = ActorID::Of(JobID::FromInt(0), TaskID::Nil(), 0);
+  gcs::ActorTableData actor_data;
+  submitter_.HandleActorUpdate(actor_id, actor_data);
+  ASSERT_EQ(worker_client_->callbacks.size(), 0);
+
+  // Create two tasks for the actor with different arguments.
+  ObjectID obj1 = ObjectID::FromRandom().WithTransportType(TaskTransportType::DIRECT);
+  ObjectID obj2 = ObjectID::FromRandom().WithTransportType(TaskTransportType::DIRECT);
+  auto task1 = CreateActorTaskHelper(actor_id, 0);
+  task1.GetMutableMessage().add_args()->add_object_ids(obj1.Binary());
+  auto task2 = CreateActorTaskHelper(actor_id, 1);
+  task2.GetMutableMessage().add_args()->add_object_ids(obj2.Binary());
+
+  // Neither task can be submitted yet because they are still waiting on
+  // dependencies.
+  ASSERT_TRUE(submitter_.SubmitTask(task1).ok());
+  ASSERT_TRUE(submitter_.SubmitTask(task2).ok());
+  ASSERT_EQ(worker_client_->callbacks.size(), 0);
+
+  // Put the dependencies in the store in the opposite order of task
+  // submission.
+  auto data = GenerateRandomObject();
+  ASSERT_TRUE(store_->Put(*data, obj2).ok());
+  ASSERT_EQ(worker_client_->callbacks.size(), 0);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(store_->Put(*data, obj1).ok());
+  ASSERT_EQ(worker_client_->callbacks.size(), 2);
+}
+
+}  // namespace ray
+
+int main(int argc, char **argv) {
+  ::testing::InitGoogleTest(&argc, argv);
+  return RUN_ALL_TESTS();
+}
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/test/direct_task_transport_test.cc b/src/ray/core_worker/test/direct_task_transport_test.cc
index 4ffcb93bf..1bb35d0f0 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/test/direct_task_transport_test.cc
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/test/direct_task_transport_test.cc
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ TEST(DirectTaskTransportTest, TestSubmitOneTask) {
   auto worker_client = std::shared_ptr<MockWorkerClient>(new MockWorkerClient());
   auto ptr = std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStore>(new CoreWorkerMemoryStore());
   auto store = std::make_shared<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider>(ptr);
-  auto factory = [&](WorkerAddress addr) { return worker_client; };
+  auto factory = [&](const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr) { return worker_client; };
   CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter submitter(raylet_client, factory, nullptr, store);
   TaskSpecification task;
   task.GetMutableMessage().set_task_id(TaskID::Nil().Binary());
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ TEST(DirectTaskTransportTest, TestHandleTaskFailure) {
   auto worker_client = std::shared_ptr<MockWorkerClient>(new MockWorkerClient());
   auto ptr = std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStore>(new CoreWorkerMemoryStore());
   auto store = std::make_shared<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider>(ptr);
-  auto factory = [&](WorkerAddress addr) { return worker_client; };
+  auto factory = [&](const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr) { return worker_client; };
   CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter submitter(raylet_client, factory, nullptr, store);
   TaskSpecification task;
   task.GetMutableMessage().set_task_id(TaskID::Nil().Binary());
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ TEST(DirectTaskTransportTest, TestConcurrentWorkerLeases) {
   auto worker_client = std::shared_ptr<MockWorkerClient>(new MockWorkerClient());
   auto ptr = std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStore>(new CoreWorkerMemoryStore());
   auto store = std::make_shared<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider>(ptr);
-  auto factory = [&](WorkerAddress addr) { return worker_client; };
+  auto factory = [&](const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr) { return worker_client; };
   CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter submitter(raylet_client, factory, nullptr, store);
   TaskSpecification task1;
   TaskSpecification task2;
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ TEST(DirectTaskTransportTest, TestReuseWorkerLease) {
   auto worker_client = std::shared_ptr<MockWorkerClient>(new MockWorkerClient());
   auto ptr = std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStore>(new CoreWorkerMemoryStore());
   auto store = std::make_shared<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider>(ptr);
-  auto factory = [&](WorkerAddress addr) { return worker_client; };
+  auto factory = [&](const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr) { return worker_client; };
   CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter submitter(raylet_client, factory, nullptr, store);
   TaskSpecification task1;
   TaskSpecification task2;
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ TEST(DirectTaskTransportTest, TestWorkerNotReusedOnError) {
   auto worker_client = std::shared_ptr<MockWorkerClient>(new MockWorkerClient());
   auto ptr = std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStore>(new CoreWorkerMemoryStore());
   auto store = std::make_shared<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider>(ptr);
-  auto factory = [&](WorkerAddress addr) { return worker_client; };
+  auto factory = [&](const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr) { return worker_client; };
   CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter submitter(raylet_client, factory, nullptr, store);
   TaskSpecification task1;
   TaskSpecification task2;
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ TEST(DirectTaskTransportTest, TestSpillback) {
   auto worker_client = std::shared_ptr<MockWorkerClient>(new MockWorkerClient());
   auto ptr = std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStore>(new CoreWorkerMemoryStore());
   auto store = std::make_shared<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider>(ptr);
-  auto factory = [&](WorkerAddress addr) { return worker_client; };
+  auto factory = [&](const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr) { return worker_client; };
 
   std::unordered_map<ClientID, std::shared_ptr<MockRayletClient>> remote_lease_clients;
   auto lease_client_factory = [&](const rpc::Address &addr) {
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/transport/dependency_resolver.cc b/src/ray/core_worker/transport/dependency_resolver.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a30acade8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/transport/dependency_resolver.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#include "ray/core_worker/transport/dependency_resolver.h"
+
+namespace ray {
+
+struct TaskState {
+  /// The task to be run.
+  TaskSpecification task;
+  /// The remaining dependencies to resolve for this task.
+  absl::flat_hash_set<ObjectID> local_dependencies;
+};
+
+void DoInlineObjectValue(const ObjectID &obj_id, std::shared_ptr<RayObject> value,
+                         TaskSpecification &task) {
+  auto &msg = task.GetMutableMessage();
+  bool found = false;
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < task.NumArgs(); i++) {
+    auto count = task.ArgIdCount(i);
+    if (count > 0) {
+      const auto &id = task.ArgId(i, 0);
+      if (id == obj_id) {
+        auto *mutable_arg = msg.mutable_args(i);
+        mutable_arg->clear_object_ids();
+        if (value->IsInPlasmaError()) {
+          // Promote the object id to plasma.
+          mutable_arg->add_object_ids(
+              obj_id.WithTransportType(TaskTransportType::RAYLET).Binary());
+        } else {
+          // Inline the object value.
+          if (value->HasData()) {
+            const auto &data = value->GetData();
+            mutable_arg->set_data(data->Data(), data->Size());
+          }
+          if (value->HasMetadata()) {
+            const auto &metadata = value->GetMetadata();
+            mutable_arg->set_metadata(metadata->Data(), metadata->Size());
+          }
+        }
+        found = true;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  RAY_CHECK(found) << "obj id " << obj_id << " not found";
+}
+
+void LocalDependencyResolver::ResolveDependencies(const TaskSpecification &task,
+                                                  std::function<void()> on_complete) {
+  absl::flat_hash_set<ObjectID> local_dependencies;
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < task.NumArgs(); i++) {
+    auto count = task.ArgIdCount(i);
+    if (count > 0) {
+      RAY_CHECK(count <= 1) << "multi args not implemented";
+      const auto &id = task.ArgId(i, 0);
+      if (id.IsDirectCallType()) {
+        local_dependencies.insert(id);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  if (local_dependencies.empty()) {
+    on_complete();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // This is deleted when the last dependency fetch callback finishes.
+  std::shared_ptr<TaskState> state =
+      std::shared_ptr<TaskState>(new TaskState{task, std::move(local_dependencies)});
+  num_pending_ += 1;
+
+  for (const auto &obj_id : state->local_dependencies) {
+    in_memory_store_->GetAsync(
+        obj_id, [this, state, obj_id, on_complete](std::shared_ptr<RayObject> obj) {
+          RAY_CHECK(obj != nullptr);
+          bool complete = false;
+          {
+            absl::MutexLock lock(&mu_);
+            state->local_dependencies.erase(obj_id);
+            DoInlineObjectValue(obj_id, obj, state->task);
+            if (state->local_dependencies.empty()) {
+              complete = true;
+              num_pending_ -= 1;
+            }
+          }
+          if (complete) {
+            on_complete();
+          }
+        });
+  }
+}
+
+}  // namespace ray
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/transport/dependency_resolver.h b/src/ray/core_worker/transport/dependency_resolver.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f6ee49d9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/transport/dependency_resolver.h
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#ifndef RAY_CORE_WORKER_DEPENDENCY_RESOLVER_H
+#define RAY_CORE_WORKER_DEPENDENCY_RESOLVER_H
+
+#include <memory>
+
+#include "ray/common/id.h"
+#include "ray/common/task/task_spec.h"
+#include "ray/core_worker/store_provider/memory_store_provider.h"
+
+namespace ray {
+
+// This class is thread-safe.
+class LocalDependencyResolver {
+ public:
+  LocalDependencyResolver(std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider> store_provider)
+      : in_memory_store_(store_provider), num_pending_(0) {}
+
+  /// Resolve all local and remote dependencies for the task, calling the specified
+  /// callback when done. Direct call ids in the task specification will be resolved
+  /// to concrete values and inlined.
+  //
+  /// Note: This method **will mutate** the given TaskSpecification.
+  ///
+  /// Postcondition: all direct call ids in arguments are converted to values.
+  void ResolveDependencies(const TaskSpecification &task,
+                           std::function<void()> on_complete);
+
+  /// Return the number of tasks pending dependency resolution.
+  /// TODO(ekl) this should be exposed in worker stats.
+  int NumPendingTasks() const { return num_pending_; }
+
+ private:
+  /// The store provider.
+  std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider> in_memory_store_;
+
+  /// Number of tasks pending dependency resolution.
+  std::atomic<int> num_pending_;
+
+  /// Protects against concurrent access to internal state.
+  absl::Mutex mu_;
+};
+
+}  // namespace ray
+
+#endif  // RAY_CORE_WORKER_DEPENDENCY_RESOLVER_H
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_actor_transport.cc b/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_actor_transport.cc
index 7570c6db0..539808b65 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_actor_transport.cc
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_actor_transport.cc
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ using ray::rpc::ActorTableData;
 
 namespace ray {
 
+int64_t GetRequestNumber(const std::unique_ptr<rpc::PushTaskRequest> &request) {
+  return request->task_spec().actor_task_spec().actor_counter();
+}
+
 void TreatTaskAsFailed(const TaskID &task_id, int num_returns,
                        const rpc::ErrorType &error_type,
                        std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider> &in_memory_store) {
@@ -57,52 +61,45 @@ void WriteObjectsToMemoryStore(
   }
 }
 
-CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter::CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter(
-    rpc::ClientCallManager &client_call_manager,
-    std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider> store_provider)
-    : client_call_manager_(client_call_manager), in_memory_store_(store_provider) {}
-
 Status CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter::SubmitTask(TaskSpecification task_spec) {
   RAY_LOG(DEBUG) << "Submitting task " << task_spec.TaskId();
-
   RAY_CHECK(task_spec.IsActorTask());
-  const auto &actor_id = task_spec.ActorId();
 
-  const auto task_id = task_spec.TaskId();
-  const auto num_returns = task_spec.NumReturns();
+  resolver_.ResolveDependencies(task_spec, [this, task_spec]() mutable {
+    const auto &actor_id = task_spec.ActorId();
+    const auto task_id = task_spec.TaskId();
+    const auto num_returns = task_spec.NumReturns();
 
-  auto request = std::unique_ptr<rpc::PushTaskRequest>(new rpc::PushTaskRequest);
-  request->mutable_task_spec()->Swap(&task_spec.GetMutableMessage());
+    auto request = std::unique_ptr<rpc::PushTaskRequest>(new rpc::PushTaskRequest);
+    request->mutable_task_spec()->Swap(&task_spec.GetMutableMessage());
 
-  std::unique_lock<std::mutex> guard(mutex_);
+    std::unique_lock<std::mutex> guard(mutex_);
 
-  auto iter = actor_states_.find(actor_id);
-  if (iter == actor_states_.end() ||
-      iter->second.state_ == ActorTableData::RECONSTRUCTING) {
-    // Actor is not yet created, or is being reconstructed, cache the request
-    // and submit after actor is alive.
-    // TODO(zhijunfu): it might be possible for a user to specify an invalid
-    // actor handle (e.g. from unpickling), in that case it might be desirable
-    // to have a timeout to mark it as invalid if it doesn't show up in the
-    // specified time.
-    pending_requests_[actor_id].emplace_back(std::move(request));
-    RAY_LOG(DEBUG) << "Actor " << actor_id << " is not yet created.";
-  } else if (iter->second.state_ == ActorTableData::ALIVE) {
-    // Actor is alive, submit the request.
-    if (rpc_clients_.count(actor_id) == 0) {
-      // If rpc client is not available, then create it.
-      ConnectAndSendPendingTasks(actor_id, iter->second.location_.first,
-                                 iter->second.location_.second);
+    auto iter = actor_states_.find(actor_id);
+    if (iter == actor_states_.end() ||
+        iter->second.state_ == ActorTableData::RECONSTRUCTING) {
+      // Actor is not yet created, or is being reconstructed, cache the request
+      // and submit after actor is alive.
+      // TODO(zhijunfu): it might be possible for a user to specify an invalid
+      // actor handle (e.g. from unpickling), in that case it might be desirable
+      // to have a timeout to mark it as invalid if it doesn't show up in the
+      // specified time.
+      auto inserted = pending_requests_[actor_id].emplace(GetRequestNumber(request),
+                                                          std::move(request));
+      RAY_CHECK(inserted.second);
+      RAY_LOG(DEBUG) << "Actor " << actor_id << " is not yet created.";
+    } else if (iter->second.state_ == ActorTableData::ALIVE) {
+      auto inserted = pending_requests_[actor_id].emplace(GetRequestNumber(request),
+                                                          std::move(request));
+      RAY_CHECK(inserted.second);
+      SendPendingTasks(actor_id);
+    } else {
+      // Actor is dead, treat the task as failure.
+      RAY_CHECK(iter->second.state_ == ActorTableData::DEAD);
+      TreatTaskAsFailed(task_id, num_returns, rpc::ErrorType::ACTOR_DIED,
+                        in_memory_store_);
     }
-
-    // Submit request.
-    auto &client = rpc_clients_[actor_id];
-    PushActorTask(*client, std::move(request), actor_id, task_id, num_returns);
-  } else {
-    // Actor is dead, treat the task as failure.
-    RAY_CHECK(iter->second.state_ == ActorTableData::DEAD);
-    TreatTaskAsFailed(task_id, num_returns, rpc::ErrorType::ACTOR_DIED, in_memory_store_);
-  }
+  });
 
   // If the task submission subsequently fails, then the client will receive
   // the error in a callback.
@@ -118,12 +115,15 @@ void CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter::HandleActorUpdate(
                                actor_data.address().port()));
 
   if (actor_data.state() == ActorTableData::ALIVE) {
-    // Check if this actor is the one that we're interested, if we already have
-    // a connection to the actor, or have pending requests for it, we should
-    // create a new connection.
-    if (pending_requests_.count(actor_id) > 0 && rpc_clients_.count(actor_id) == 0) {
-      ConnectAndSendPendingTasks(actor_id, actor_data.address().ip_address(),
-                                 actor_data.address().port());
+    // Create a new connection to the actor.
+    if (rpc_clients_.count(actor_id) == 0) {
+      rpc::WorkerAddress addr = {actor_data.address().ip_address(),
+                                 actor_data.address().port()};
+      rpc_clients_[actor_id] =
+          std::shared_ptr<rpc::CoreWorkerClientInterface>(client_factory_(addr));
+    }
+    if (pending_requests_.count(actor_id) > 0) {
+      SendPendingTasks(actor_id);
     }
   } else {
     // Remove rpc client if it's dead or being reconstructed.
@@ -145,40 +145,49 @@ void CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter::HandleActorUpdate(
     // If there are pending requests, treat the pending tasks as failed.
     auto pending_it = pending_requests_.find(actor_id);
     if (pending_it != pending_requests_.end()) {
-      for (const auto &request : pending_it->second) {
+      auto head = pending_it->second.begin();
+      while (head != pending_it->second.end()) {
+        auto request = std::move(head->second);
+        head = pending_it->second.erase(head);
+
         TreatTaskAsFailed(TaskID::FromBinary(request->task_spec().task_id()),
                           request->task_spec().num_returns(), rpc::ErrorType::ACTOR_DIED,
                           in_memory_store_);
       }
       pending_requests_.erase(pending_it);
     }
+
+    next_sequence_number_.erase(actor_id);
   }
 }
 
-void CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter::ConnectAndSendPendingTasks(
-    const ActorID &actor_id, std::string ip_address, int port) {
-  std::shared_ptr<rpc::CoreWorkerClient> grpc_client =
-      std::make_shared<rpc::CoreWorkerClient>(ip_address, port, client_call_manager_);
-  RAY_CHECK(rpc_clients_.emplace(actor_id, std::move(grpc_client)).second);
-
-  // Submit all pending requests.
+void CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter::SendPendingTasks(const ActorID &actor_id) {
   auto &client = rpc_clients_[actor_id];
+  RAY_CHECK(client);
+  // Submit all pending requests.
   auto &requests = pending_requests_[actor_id];
-  while (!requests.empty()) {
-    auto request = std::move(requests.front());
+  auto head = requests.begin();
+  while (head != requests.end() && head->first == next_sequence_number_[actor_id]) {
+    auto request = std::move(head->second);
+    head = requests.erase(head);
+
     auto num_returns = request->task_spec().num_returns();
     auto task_id = TaskID::FromBinary(request->task_spec().task_id());
     PushActorTask(*client, std::move(request), actor_id, task_id, num_returns);
-    requests.pop_front();
   }
 }
 
 void CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter::PushActorTask(
-    rpc::CoreWorkerClient &client, std::unique_ptr<rpc::PushTaskRequest> request,
+    rpc::CoreWorkerClientInterface &client, std::unique_ptr<rpc::PushTaskRequest> request,
     const ActorID &actor_id, const TaskID &task_id, int num_returns) {
   RAY_LOG(DEBUG) << "Pushing task " << task_id << " to actor " << actor_id;
   waiting_reply_tasks_[actor_id].insert(std::make_pair(task_id, num_returns));
 
+  auto task_number = GetRequestNumber(request);
+  RAY_CHECK(next_sequence_number_[actor_id] == task_number)
+      << "Counter was " << task_number << " expected " << next_sequence_number_[actor_id];
+  next_sequence_number_[actor_id]++;
+
   auto status = client.PushActorTask(
       std::move(request), [this, actor_id, task_id, num_returns](
                               Status status, const rpc::PushTaskReply &reply) {
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_actor_transport.h b/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_actor_transport.h
index 9c116c728..5b0b3acf2 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_actor_transport.h
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_actor_transport.h
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
 #include <boost/asio/thread_pool.hpp>
 #include <boost/thread.hpp>
 #include <list>
+#include <queue>
 #include <set>
 #include <utility>
+#include "absl/container/flat_hash_map.h"
 
 #include "absl/base/thread_annotations.h"
 #include "absl/synchronization/mutex.h"
@@ -13,10 +15,13 @@
 #include "ray/common/ray_object.h"
 #include "ray/core_worker/context.h"
 #include "ray/core_worker/store_provider/memory_store_provider.h"
+#include "ray/core_worker/transport/dependency_resolver.h"
 #include "ray/gcs/redis_gcs_client.h"
 #include "ray/rpc/grpc_server.h"
 #include "ray/rpc/worker/core_worker_client.h"
 
+namespace {}  // namespace
+
 namespace ray {
 
 /// The max time to wait for out-of-order tasks.
@@ -61,8 +66,11 @@ struct ActorStateData {
 class CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter {
  public:
   CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter(
-      rpc::ClientCallManager &client_call_manager,
-      std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider> store_provider);
+      rpc::ClientFactoryFn client_factory,
+      std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider> store_provider)
+      : client_factory_(client_factory),
+        in_memory_store_(store_provider),
+        resolver_(in_memory_store_) {}
 
   /// Submit a task to an actor for execution.
   ///
@@ -87,20 +95,17 @@ class CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter {
   /// \param[in] task_id The ID of a task.
   /// \param[in] num_returns Number of return objects.
   /// \return Void.
-  void PushActorTask(rpc::CoreWorkerClient &client,
+  void PushActorTask(rpc::CoreWorkerClientInterface &client,
                      std::unique_ptr<rpc::PushTaskRequest> request,
                      const ActorID &actor_id, const TaskID &task_id, int num_returns);
 
-  /// Create connection to actor and send all pending tasks.
+  /// Send all pending tasks for an actor.
   /// Note that this function doesn't take lock, the caller is expected to hold
   /// `mutex_` before calling this function.
   ///
   /// \param[in] actor_id Actor ID.
-  /// \param[in] ip_address The ip address of the node that the actor is running on.
-  /// \param[in] port The port that the actor is listening on.
   /// \return Void.
-  void ConnectAndSendPendingTasks(const ActorID &actor_id, std::string ip_address,
-                                  int port);
+  void SendPendingTasks(const ActorID &actor_id);
 
   /// Whether the specified actor is alive.
   ///
@@ -108,8 +113,8 @@ class CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter {
   /// \return Whether this actor is alive.
   bool IsActorAlive(const ActorID &actor_id) const;
 
-  /// The shared `ClientCallManager` object.
-  rpc::ClientCallManager &client_call_manager_;
+  /// Factory for producing new core worker clients.
+  rpc::ClientFactoryFn client_factory_;
 
   /// Mutex to proect the various maps below.
   mutable std::mutex mutex_;
@@ -122,18 +127,27 @@ class CoreWorkerDirectActorTaskSubmitter {
   ///
   /// TODO(zhijunfu): this will be moved into `actor_states_` later when we can
   /// subscribe updates for a specific actor.
-  std::unordered_map<ActorID, std::shared_ptr<rpc::CoreWorkerClient>> rpc_clients_;
+  std::unordered_map<ActorID, std::shared_ptr<rpc::CoreWorkerClientInterface>>
+      rpc_clients_;
 
-  /// Map from actor id to the actor's pending requests.
-  std::unordered_map<ActorID, std::list<std::unique_ptr<rpc::PushTaskRequest>>>
+  /// Map from actor id to the actor's pending requests. Each actor's requests
+  /// are ordered by the task number in the request.
+  absl::flat_hash_map<ActorID, std::map<int64_t, std::unique_ptr<rpc::PushTaskRequest>>>
       pending_requests_;
 
+  /// Map from actor id to the sequence number of the next task to send to that
+  /// actor.
+  std::unordered_map<ActorID, int64_t> next_sequence_number_;
+
   /// Map from actor id to the tasks that are waiting for reply.
   std::unordered_map<ActorID, std::unordered_map<TaskID, int>> waiting_reply_tasks_;
 
   /// The store provider.
   std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider> in_memory_store_;
 
+  /// Resolve direct call object dependencies;
+  LocalDependencyResolver resolver_;
+
   friend class CoreWorkerTest;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_task_transport.cc b/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_task_transport.cc
index 069c7154c..d5d1316e3 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_task_transport.cc
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_task_transport.cc
@@ -1,85 +1,9 @@
 #include "ray/core_worker/transport/direct_task_transport.h"
+#include "ray/core_worker/transport/dependency_resolver.h"
 #include "ray/core_worker/transport/direct_actor_transport.h"
 
 namespace ray {
 
-void DoInlineObjectValue(const ObjectID &obj_id, std::shared_ptr<RayObject> value,
-                         TaskSpecification &task) {
-  auto &msg = task.GetMutableMessage();
-  bool found = false;
-  for (size_t i = 0; i < task.NumArgs(); i++) {
-    auto count = task.ArgIdCount(i);
-    if (count > 0) {
-      const auto &id = task.ArgId(i, 0);
-      if (id == obj_id) {
-        auto *mutable_arg = msg.mutable_args(i);
-        mutable_arg->clear_object_ids();
-        if (value->IsInPlasmaError()) {
-          // Promote the object id to plasma.
-          mutable_arg->add_object_ids(
-              obj_id.WithTransportType(TaskTransportType::RAYLET).Binary());
-        } else {
-          // Inline the object value.
-          if (value->HasData()) {
-            const auto &data = value->GetData();
-            mutable_arg->set_data(data->Data(), data->Size());
-          }
-          if (value->HasMetadata()) {
-            const auto &metadata = value->GetMetadata();
-            mutable_arg->set_metadata(metadata->Data(), metadata->Size());
-          }
-        }
-        found = true;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-  RAY_CHECK(found) << "obj id " << obj_id << " not found";
-}
-
-void LocalDependencyResolver::ResolveDependencies(const TaskSpecification &task,
-                                                  std::function<void()> on_complete) {
-  absl::flat_hash_set<ObjectID> local_dependencies;
-  for (size_t i = 0; i < task.NumArgs(); i++) {
-    auto count = task.ArgIdCount(i);
-    if (count > 0) {
-      RAY_CHECK(count <= 1) << "multi args not implemented";
-      const auto &id = task.ArgId(i, 0);
-      if (id.IsDirectCallType()) {
-        local_dependencies.insert(id);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-  if (local_dependencies.empty()) {
-    on_complete();
-    return;
-  }
-
-  // This is deleted when the last dependency fetch callback finishes.
-  std::shared_ptr<TaskState> state =
-      std::shared_ptr<TaskState>(new TaskState{task, std::move(local_dependencies)});
-  num_pending_ += 1;
-
-  for (const auto &obj_id : state->local_dependencies) {
-    in_memory_store_->GetAsync(
-        obj_id, [this, state, obj_id, on_complete](std::shared_ptr<RayObject> obj) {
-          RAY_CHECK(obj != nullptr);
-          bool complete = false;
-          {
-            absl::MutexLock lock(&mu_);
-            state->local_dependencies.erase(obj_id);
-            DoInlineObjectValue(obj_id, obj, state->task);
-            if (state->local_dependencies.empty()) {
-              complete = true;
-              num_pending_ -= 1;
-            }
-          }
-          if (complete) {
-            on_complete();
-          }
-        });
-  }
-}
-
 Status CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter::SubmitTask(TaskSpecification task_spec) {
   resolver_.ResolveDependencies(task_spec, [this, task_spec]() {
     // TODO(ekl) should have a queue per distinct resource type required
@@ -91,7 +15,7 @@ Status CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter::SubmitTask(TaskSpecification task_spec) {
 }
 
 void CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter::HandleWorkerLeaseGranted(
-    const WorkerAddress &addr, std::shared_ptr<WorkerLeaseInterface> lease_client) {
+    const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr, std::shared_ptr<WorkerLeaseInterface> lease_client) {
   // Setup client state for this worker.
   {
     absl::MutexLock lock(&mu_);
@@ -110,7 +34,7 @@ void CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter::HandleWorkerLeaseGranted(
   OnWorkerIdle(addr, /*error=*/false);
 }
 
-void CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter::OnWorkerIdle(const WorkerAddress &addr,
+void CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter::OnWorkerIdle(const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr,
                                                  bool was_error) {
   absl::MutexLock lock(&mu_);
   if (queued_tasks_.empty() || was_error) {
@@ -199,7 +123,7 @@ void CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter::RequestNewWorkerIfNeeded(
   worker_request_pending_ = true;
 }
 
-void CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter::PushNormalTask(const WorkerAddress &addr,
+void CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter::PushNormalTask(const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr,
                                                    rpc::CoreWorkerClientInterface &client,
                                                    TaskSpecification &task_spec) {
   auto task_id = task_spec.TaskId();
diff --git a/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_task_transport.h b/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_task_transport.h
index fabedc903..079fa5958 100644
--- a/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_task_transport.h
+++ b/src/ray/core_worker/transport/direct_task_transport.h
@@ -7,53 +7,13 @@
 #include "ray/common/ray_object.h"
 #include "ray/core_worker/context.h"
 #include "ray/core_worker/store_provider/memory_store_provider.h"
+#include "ray/core_worker/transport/dependency_resolver.h"
 #include "ray/core_worker/transport/direct_actor_transport.h"
 #include "ray/raylet/raylet_client.h"
 #include "ray/rpc/worker/core_worker_client.h"
 
 namespace ray {
 
-struct TaskState {
-  /// The task to be run.
-  TaskSpecification task;
-  /// The remaining dependencies to resolve for this task.
-  absl::flat_hash_set<ObjectID> local_dependencies;
-};
-
-// This class is thread-safe.
-class LocalDependencyResolver {
- public:
-  LocalDependencyResolver(std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider> store_provider)
-      : in_memory_store_(store_provider), num_pending_(0) {}
-
-  /// Resolve all local and remote dependencies for the task, calling the specified
-  /// callback when done. Direct call ids in the task specification will be resolved
-  /// to concrete values and inlined.
-  //
-  /// Note: This method **will mutate** the given TaskSpecification.
-  ///
-  /// Postcondition: all direct call ids in arguments are converted to values.
-  void ResolveDependencies(const TaskSpecification &task,
-                           std::function<void()> on_complete);
-
-  /// Return the number of tasks pending dependency resolution.
-  /// TODO(ekl) this should be exposed in worker stats.
-  int NumPendingTasks() const { return num_pending_; }
-
- private:
-  /// The store provider.
-  std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider> in_memory_store_;
-
-  /// Number of tasks pending dependency resolution.
-  std::atomic<int> num_pending_;
-
-  /// Protects against concurrent access to internal state.
-  absl::Mutex mu_;
-};
-
-typedef std::pair<std::string, int> WorkerAddress;
-typedef std::function<std::shared_ptr<rpc::CoreWorkerClientInterface>(WorkerAddress)>
-    ClientFactoryFn;
 typedef std::function<std::shared_ptr<WorkerLeaseInterface>(const rpc::Address &)>
     LeaseClientFactoryFn;
 
@@ -61,8 +21,8 @@ typedef std::function<std::shared_ptr<WorkerLeaseInterface>(const rpc::Address &
 class CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter {
  public:
   CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter(
-      std::shared_ptr<WorkerLeaseInterface> lease_client, ClientFactoryFn client_factory,
-      LeaseClientFactoryFn lease_client_factory,
+      std::shared_ptr<WorkerLeaseInterface> lease_client,
+      rpc::ClientFactoryFn client_factory, LeaseClientFactoryFn lease_client_factory,
       std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerMemoryStoreProvider> store_provider)
       : local_lease_client_(lease_client),
         client_factory_(client_factory),
@@ -79,7 +39,7 @@ class CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter {
   /// Schedule more work onto an idle worker or return it back to the raylet if
   /// no more tasks are queued for submission. If an error was encountered
   /// processing the worker, we don't attempt to re-use the worker.
-  void OnWorkerIdle(const WorkerAddress &addr, bool was_error);
+  void OnWorkerIdle(const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr, bool was_error);
 
   /// Get an existing lease client or connect a new one. If a raylet_address is
   /// provided, this connects to a remote raylet. Else, this connects to the
@@ -98,11 +58,12 @@ class CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter {
   /// Callback for when the raylet grants us a worker lease. The worker is returned
   /// to the raylet via the given lease client once the task queue is empty.
   /// TODO: Implement a lease term by which we need to return the worker.
-  void HandleWorkerLeaseGranted(const WorkerAddress &addr,
+  void HandleWorkerLeaseGranted(const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr,
                                 std::shared_ptr<WorkerLeaseInterface> lease_client);
 
   /// Push a task to a specific worker.
-  void PushNormalTask(const WorkerAddress &addr, rpc::CoreWorkerClientInterface &client,
+  void PushNormalTask(const rpc::WorkerAddress &addr,
+                      rpc::CoreWorkerClientInterface &client,
                       TaskSpecification &task_spec);
 
   // Client that can be used to lease and return workers from the local raylet.
@@ -113,7 +74,7 @@ class CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter {
       remote_lease_clients_ GUARDED_BY(mu_);
 
   /// Factory for producing new core worker clients.
-  ClientFactoryFn client_factory_;
+  rpc::ClientFactoryFn client_factory_;
 
   /// Factory for producing new clients to request leases from remote nodes.
   LeaseClientFactoryFn lease_client_factory_;
@@ -128,12 +89,12 @@ class CoreWorkerDirectTaskSubmitter {
   absl::Mutex mu_;
 
   /// Cache of gRPC clients to other workers.
-  absl::flat_hash_map<WorkerAddress, std::shared_ptr<rpc::CoreWorkerClientInterface>>
+  absl::flat_hash_map<rpc::WorkerAddress, std::shared_ptr<rpc::CoreWorkerClientInterface>>
       client_cache_ GUARDED_BY(mu_);
 
   /// Map from worker address to the lease client through which it should be
   /// returned.
-  absl::flat_hash_map<WorkerAddress, std::shared_ptr<WorkerLeaseInterface>>
+  absl::flat_hash_map<rpc::WorkerAddress, std::shared_ptr<WorkerLeaseInterface>>
       worker_to_lease_client_ GUARDED_BY(mu_);
 
   // Whether we have a request to the Raylet to acquire a new worker in flight.
diff --git a/src/ray/rpc/worker/core_worker_client.h b/src/ray/rpc/worker/core_worker_client.h
index c58573371..40ad8f808 100644
--- a/src/ray/rpc/worker/core_worker_client.h
+++ b/src/ray/rpc/worker/core_worker_client.h
@@ -33,6 +33,13 @@ const static int64_t RequestSizeInBytes(const PushTaskRequest &request) {
   return size;
 }
 
+// Shared between direct actor and task submitters.
+// TODO(swang): Remove and replace with rpc::Address.
+class CoreWorkerClientInterface;
+typedef std::pair<std::string, int> WorkerAddress;
+typedef std::function<std::shared_ptr<CoreWorkerClientInterface>(const WorkerAddress &)>
+    ClientFactoryFn;
+
 /// Abstract client interface for testing.
 class CoreWorkerClientInterface {
  public: