diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6b7efda0..97f34930 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Reverse Chronological Order:
 ## master
 
   * Add a command line option to control role filter (`--roles`) (@andytinycat)
+  * Use an SCM object with a pluggable strategy
 
 ## `3.1.0` (not released)
 
diff --git a/lib/capistrano/git.rb b/lib/capistrano/git.rb
index 8d17e6c4..1a3cdb85 100644
--- a/lib/capistrano/git.rb
+++ b/lib/capistrano/git.rb
@@ -1 +1,36 @@
 load File.expand_path("../tasks/git.rake", __FILE__)
+
+require 'capistrano/scm'
+
+class Capistrano::Git < Capistrano::SCM
+
+  # execute git with argument in the context
+  #
+  def git(*args)
+    args.unshift :git
+    context.execute *args
+  end
+
+  # The Capistrano default strategy for git. You should want to use this.
+  module DefaultStrategy
+    def test
+      test! " [ -f #{repo_path}/HEAD ] "
+    end
+
+    def check
+      test! :git, :'ls-remote', repo_url
+    end
+
+    def clone
+      git :clone, '--mirror', repo_url, repo_path
+    end
+
+    def update
+      git :remote, :update
+    end
+
+    def release
+      git :archive, fetch(:branch), '| tar -x -C', release_path
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/capistrano/hg.rb b/lib/capistrano/hg.rb
index 7747cf1b..8ed9fc33 100644
--- a/lib/capistrano/hg.rb
+++ b/lib/capistrano/hg.rb
@@ -1 +1,33 @@
 load File.expand_path("../tasks/hg.rake", __FILE__)
+
+require 'capistrano/scm'
+
+class Capistrano::Hg < Capistrano::SCM
+  # execute hg in context with arguments
+  def hg(*args)
+    args.unshift(:hg)
+    context.execute *args
+  end
+
+  module DefaultStrategy
+    def test
+      test! " [ -d #{repo_path}/.hg ] "
+    end
+
+    def check
+      hg "id", repo_url
+    end
+
+    def clone
+      hg "clone", "--noupdate", repo_url, repo_path
+    end
+
+    def update
+      hg "pull"
+    end
+
+    def release
+      hg "archive", release_path, "--rev", fetch(:branch)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/capistrano/scm.rb b/lib/capistrano/scm.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f0728647
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/capistrano/scm.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+module Capistrano
+
+  # Base class for SCM strategy providers.
+  #
+  # @abstract
+  #
+  # @attr_reader [Rake] context
+  #
+  # @author Hartog de Mik
+  #
+  class SCM
+    attr_reader :context
+
+    # Provide a wrapper for the SCM that loads a strategy for the user.
+    #
+    # @param [Rake] context     The context in which the strategy should run
+    # @param [Module] strategy  A module to include into the SCM instance. The
+    #    module should provide the abstract methods of Capistrano::SCM
+    #
+    def initialize(context, strategy)
+      @context = context
+      singleton = class << self; self; end
+      singleton.send(:include, strategy)
+    end
+
+    # Call test in context
+    def test!(*args)
+      context.test *args
+    end
+
+    # The repository URL accoriding to the context
+    def repo_url
+      context.repo_url
+    end
+
+    # The repository path accoriding to the context
+    def repo_path
+      context.repo_path
+    end
+
+    # The release path accoriding to the context
+    def release_path
+      context.release_path
+    end
+
+    # Fetch a var from the context
+    # @param [Symbol] variable The variable to fetch
+    # @param [Object] default  The default value if not found
+    #
+    def fetch(*args)
+      context.fetch(*args)
+    end
+
+    # @abstract
+    #
+    # Your implementation should check the existance of a cache repository on
+    # the deployment target
+    #
+    # @return [Boolean]
+    #
+    def test
+      raise NotImplementedError.new(
+        "Your SCM strategy module should provide a #test method"
+      )
+    end
+
+    # @abstract
+    #
+    # Your implementation should check if the specified remote-repository is
+    # available.
+    #
+    # @return [Boolean]
+    #
+    def check
+      raise NotImplementedError.new(
+        "Your SCM strategy module should provide a #check method"
+      )
+    end
+
+    # @abstract
+    #
+    # Create a (new) clone of the remote-repository on the deployment target
+    #
+    # @return void
+    #
+    def clone
+      raise NotImplementedError.new(
+        "Your SCM strategy module should provide a #clone method"
+      )
+    end
+
+    # @abstract
+    #
+    # Update the clone on the deployment target
+    #
+    # @return void
+    #
+    def update
+      raise NotImplementedError.new(
+        "Your SCM strategy module should provide a #update method"
+      )
+    end
+
+    # @abstract
+    #
+    # Copy the contents of the cache-repository onto the release path
+    #
+    # @return void
+    #
+    def release
+      raise NotImplementedError.new(
+        "Your SCM strategy module should provide a #release method"
+      )
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/capistrano/tasks/git.rake b/lib/capistrano/tasks/git.rake
index 978d8794..684556a5 100644
--- a/lib/capistrano/tasks/git.rake
+++ b/lib/capistrano/tasks/git.rake
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 namespace :git do
 
+  def strategy
+    @strategy ||= Capistrano::Git.new(self, fetch(:git_strategy, Capistrano::Git::DefaultStrategy))
+  end
+
   set :git_environmental_variables, ->() {
     {
       git_askpass: "/bin/echo",
@@ -21,7 +25,7 @@ namespace :git do
     fetch(:branch)
     on release_roles :all do
       with fetch(:git_environmental_variables) do
-        exit 1 unless test :git, :'ls-remote', repo_url
+        exit 1 unless strategy.check
       end
     end
   end
@@ -29,12 +33,12 @@ namespace :git do
   desc 'Clone the repo to the cache'
   task clone: :'git:wrapper' do
     on release_roles :all do
-      if test " [ -f #{repo_path}/HEAD ] "
+      if strategy.test
         info t(:mirror_exists, at: repo_path)
       else
         within deploy_path do
           with fetch(:git_environmental_variables) do
-            execute :git, :clone, '--mirror', repo_url, repo_path
+            strategy.clone
           end
         end
       end
@@ -46,7 +50,7 @@ namespace :git do
     on release_roles :all do
       within repo_path do
         capturing_revisions do
-          execute :git, :remote, :update
+          strategy.update
         end
       end
     end
@@ -58,7 +62,7 @@ namespace :git do
       with fetch(:git_environmental_variables) do
         within repo_path do
           execute :mkdir, '-p', release_path
-          execute :git, :archive, fetch(:branch), '| tar -x -C', release_path
+          strategy.release
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/capistrano/tasks/hg.rake b/lib/capistrano/tasks/hg.rake
index 138a75c7..2021cce4 100644
--- a/lib/capistrano/tasks/hg.rake
+++ b/lib/capistrano/tasks/hg.rake
@@ -1,19 +1,23 @@
 namespace :hg do
+  def strategy
+    @strategy ||= Capistrano::Hg.new(self, fetch(:hg_strategy, Capistrano::Hg::DefaultStrategy))
+  end
+
   desc 'Check that the repo is reachable'
   task :check do
     on release_roles :all do
-      execute "hg", "id", repo_url
+      strategy.check
     end
   end
 
   desc 'Clone the repo to the cache'
   task :clone do
     on release_roles :all do
-      if test " [ -d #{repo_path}/.hg ] "
+      if strategy.test
         info t(:mirror_exists, at: repo_path)
       else
         within deploy_path do
-          execute "hg", "clone", "--noupdate", repo_url, repo_path
+          strategy.clone
         end
       end
     end
@@ -23,7 +27,7 @@ namespace :hg do
   task :update => :'hg:clone' do
     on release_roles :all do
       within repo_path do
-        execute "hg", "pull"
+        strategy.update
       end
     end
   end
@@ -32,7 +36,7 @@ namespace :hg do
   task :create_release => :'hg:update' do
     on release_roles :all do
       within repo_path do
-        execute "hg", "archive", release_path, "--rev", fetch(:branch)
+        strategy.release
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/lib/capistrano/git_spec.rb b/spec/lib/capistrano/git_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1ad9b502
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/lib/capistrano/git_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+require 'capistrano/git'
+
+module Capistrano
+  describe Git do
+    let(:context) { Class.new.new }
+    subject { Capistrano::Git.new(context, Capistrano::Git::DefaultStrategy) }
+
+    describe "#git" do
+      it "should call execute git in the context, with arguments" do
+        context.expects(:execute).with(:git, :init)
+        subject.git(:init)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe Git::DefaultStrategy do
+    let(:context) { Class.new.new }
+    subject { Capistrano::Git.new(context, Capistrano::Git::DefaultStrategy) }
+
+    describe "#test" do
+      it "should call test for repo HEAD" do
+        context.expects(:repo_path).returns("/path/to/repo")
+        context.expects(:test).with " [ -f /path/to/repo/HEAD ] "
+
+        subject.test
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "#check" do
+      it "should test the repo url" do
+        context.expects(:repo_url).returns(:url)
+        context.expects(:test).with(:git, :'ls-remote', :url).returns(true)
+
+        subject.check
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "#clone" do
+      it "should run git clone" do
+        context.expects(:repo_url).returns(:url)
+        context.expects(:repo_path).returns(:path)
+
+        context.expects(:execute).with(:git, :clone, '--mirror', :url, :path)
+
+        subject.clone
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "#update" do
+      it "should run git update" do
+        context.expects(:execute).with(:git, :remote, :update)
+
+        subject.update
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "#release" do
+      it "should run git archive" do
+        context.expects(:fetch).returns(:branch)
+        context.expects(:release_path).returns(:path)
+
+        context.expects(:execute).with(:git, :archive, :branch, '| tar -x -C', :path)
+
+        subject.release
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/lib/capistrano/hg_spec.rb b/spec/lib/capistrano/hg_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7519cffc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/lib/capistrano/hg_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+require 'capistrano/hg'
+
+module Capistrano
+  describe Hg do
+    let(:context) { Class.new.new }
+    subject { Capistrano::Hg.new(context, Capistrano::Hg::DefaultStrategy) }
+
+    describe "#hg" do
+      it "should call execute hg in the context, with arguments" do
+        context.expects(:execute).with(:hg, :init)
+        subject.hg(:init)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe Hg::DefaultStrategy do
+    let(:context) { Class.new.new }
+    subject { Capistrano::Hg.new(context, Capistrano::Hg::DefaultStrategy) }
+
+    describe "#test" do
+      it "should call test for repo HEAD" do
+        context.expects(:repo_path).returns("/path/to/repo")
+        context.expects(:test).with " [ -d /path/to/repo/.hg ] "
+
+        subject.test
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "#check" do
+      it "should test the repo url" do
+        context.expects(:repo_url).returns(:url)
+        context.expects(:execute).with(:hg, "id", :url)
+
+        subject.check
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "#clone" do
+      it "should run hg clone" do
+        context.expects(:repo_url).returns(:url)
+        context.expects(:repo_path).returns(:path)
+
+        context.expects(:execute).with(:hg, "clone", '--noupdate', :url, :path)
+
+        subject.clone
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "#update" do
+      it "should run hg update" do
+        context.expects(:execute).with(:hg, "pull")
+
+        subject.update
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "#release" do
+      it "should run hg archive" do
+        context.expects(:fetch).returns(:branch)
+        context.expects(:release_path).returns(:path)
+
+        context.expects(:execute).with(:hg, "archive", :path, "--rev", :branch)
+
+        subject.release
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/lib/capistrano/scm_spec.rb b/spec/lib/capistrano/scm_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3e736bed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/lib/capistrano/scm_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+require 'capistrano/scm'
+
+module RaiseNotImplementedMacro
+  def raise_not_implemented_on(method)
+    it "should raise NotImplemented on #{method}" do
+      expect {
+        subject.send(method)
+      }.to raise_error(NotImplementedError)
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+RSpec.configure do
+  include RaiseNotImplementedMacro
+end
+
+module DummyStrategy
+  def test
+    test!("you dummy!")
+  end
+end
+
+module BlindStrategy; end
+
+module Capistrano
+  describe SCM do
+    let(:context) { Class.new.new }
+
+    describe "#initialize" do
+      subject { Capistrano::SCM.new(context, DummyStrategy) }
+
+      it "should load the provided strategy" do
+        context.expects(:test).with("you dummy!")
+        subject.test
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "Convenience methods" do
+      subject { Capistrano::SCM.new(context, BlindStrategy) }
+
+      describe "#test!" do
+        it "should return call test on the context" do
+          context.expects(:test).with(:x)
+          subject.test!(:x)
+        end
+      end
+
+      describe "#repo_url" do
+        it "should return the repo url according to the context" do
+          context.expects(:repo_url).returns(:url)
+          subject.repo_url.should == :url
+        end
+      end
+
+      describe "#repo_path" do
+        it "should return the repo path according to the context" do
+          context.expects(:repo_path).returns(:path)
+          subject.repo_path.should == :path
+        end
+      end
+
+      describe "#release_path" do
+        it "should return the release path according to the context" do
+          context.expects(:release_path).returns('/path/to/nowhere')
+          subject.release_path.should == '/path/to/nowhere'
+        end
+      end
+
+      describe "#fetch" do
+        it "should call fetch on the context" do
+          context.expects(:fetch)
+          subject.fetch(:branch)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "With a 'blind' strategy" do
+      subject { Capistrano::SCM.new(context, BlindStrategy) }
+
+      describe "#test" do
+        raise_not_implemented_on(:test)
+      end
+
+      describe "#check" do
+        raise_not_implemented_on(:check)
+      end
+
+      describe "#clone" do
+        raise_not_implemented_on(:clone)
+      end
+
+      describe "#update" do
+        raise_not_implemented_on(:update)
+      end
+
+      describe "#release" do
+        raise_not_implemented_on(:release)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
+