It seems like there was a change of plans by Montgomery on 27 October 1942

The Australian historian thought that Montgomery might have had farther reaching discussions with General Alexander on 27 October 1942. The topic of the 9th Australian Division and future plans had to be a concern. The Second Battle of El Alamein had until 27 October followed the "modified Lightfoot Plan". There was talk of 30th Corps and 13th Corps "destroying" the forward enemy soldiers in the front positions. 30th Corps would attack to the north with the 9th Australian Division. A similar attack to the south from \ Miteiriya Ridge would be executed by the "New Zealand Division, South African and 4th Indian Divisions". It seems that Montgomery said something like "I hope that the operations outlined with result in the destruction, by a crumbling process, of the whole of the enemy holding troops". Montgomery expected that once the "holding troops" were destroyed that the rest of the "Panzer Army" could be destroyed.

Montgomery now hoped by 28 October morning that they could try a "new breakout" attempt after the 9th Australian Division had finished its attack to the north. Montgomery conferred with "Leese and Lumsden" and informed them that he wanted XXX Corps to "drive west" as far as Sidi el Rahman. He wanted X Corps to push to the west from the "left flank" of the Australian division. X Corps was to block the enemy armored forces from XXX Corps. Montgomery wanted a "break out between Trig 29 and the sea". South of Trig 29, the army was to switch to the defensive. The Australian historian thought that if the plan were executed as designed, the armored forces would have not been able to maneuver, except perhaps in one direction.

They needed the Australians to take "the area south of the rail line and enemy defenses between the road and the sea". That was not part of the plan for this operation, which was a problem. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Australian Official History.