A system includes a task scheduler to select a queue from a port. The port includes a determined number of cell slots between pick opportunities. The task scheduler selects a queue at a pick opportunity. A queue manager connects with the task scheduler to pop cell packets from the selected queue, and to send update information to the task scheduler. The update information includes information of how the queue manager expects to fill the cell slots between the task scheduler selections. The task scheduler makes subsequent queue selections based on the update information.