diff --git a/gates/pool.py b/gates/pool.py
index a5865a1..5235941 100644
--- a/gates/pool.py
+++ b/gates/pool.py
@@ -61,6 +61,29 @@ def add_image(base_dir, pool_id, data, ts=0):
     return m
 
 
+def _clamp_active(m):
+    n = len(m["slots"])
+    if n == 0:
+        return 0
+    return max(0, min(m.get("active", 0), n - 1))
+
+
+def set_active(base_dir, pool_id, index):
+    m = read_manifest(base_dir, pool_id)
+    m["active"] = index
+    m["active"] = _clamp_active(m)
+    write_manifest(base_dir, pool_id, m)
+    return m
+
+
+def resolve_slot(manifest, index_widget):
+    n = len(manifest["slots"])
+    if n == 0:
+        return -1
+    idx = manifest.get("active", 0) if index_widget == -1 else index_widget
+    return max(0, min(idx, n - 1))
+
+
 def rebuild_manifest(base_dir, pool_id):
     # Temporary stub — replaced in Task 7.
     return empty_manifest()
diff --git a/tests/test_pool.py b/tests/test_pool.py
index 8666d2c..723cdb5 100644
--- a/tests/test_pool.py
+++ b/tests/test_pool.py
@@ -49,3 +49,19 @@ def test_add_image_monotonic_after_growth(tmp_path):
     pool.add_image(str(tmp_path), "p1", b"a", ts=1)
     m = pool.add_image(str(tmp_path), "p1", b"b", ts=2)
     assert [s["image"] for s in m["slots"]] == ["img_0001.png", "img_0002.png"]
+
+
+def test_set_active_clamps(tmp_path):
+    pool.add_image(str(tmp_path), "p1", b"a", ts=1)
+    pool.add_image(str(tmp_path), "p1", b"b", ts=2)
+    assert pool.set_active(str(tmp_path), "p1", 1)["active"] == 1
+    assert pool.set_active(str(tmp_path), "p1", 9)["active"] == 1   # clamp high
+    assert pool.set_active(str(tmp_path), "p1", -5)["active"] == 0  # clamp low
+
+
+def test_resolve_slot_rules():
+    m = {"active": 1, "slots": [0, 1, 2], "next_seq": 4}   # 3 slots
+    assert pool.resolve_slot(m, -1) == 1     # manual -> active
+    assert pool.resolve_slot(m, 0) == 0      # forced
+    assert pool.resolve_slot(m, 9) == 2      # clamp high
+    assert pool.resolve_slot({"active": 0, "slots": [], "next_seq": 1}, -1) == -1  # empty