Having faced similar situations, I recommend leveraging parallel test execution and maintaining a pre-prioritized test suite for emergencies. This allows quick identification of critical test cases while safely skipping less crucial ones. Combined with automated smoke tests, this approach helps maintain quality even under tight deadlines.

To handle last-minute changes in regression testing, I prioritize test cases that cover high-risk and critical functionality. Leveraging automation for repetitive tests can save time while focusing manual efforts on new or impacted areas. Communicating changes and timelines clearly with stakeholders ensures alignment and avoids surprises. If needed, I collaborate with the team to reallocate resources or adjust the scope to maintain the timeline without compromising quality.