diff --git a/src/hipscat_import/cross_match/macauff_arguments.py b/src/hipscat_import/cross_match/macauff_arguments.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..93f3bca6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/hipscat_import/cross_match/macauff_arguments.py
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from os import path
+from typing import List
+
+from hipscat.io import FilePointer, file_io
+from hipscat.io.validation import is_valid_catalog
+
+from hipscat_import.runtime_arguments import RuntimeArguments
+
+# pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
+# pylint: disable=unsupported-binary-operation
+
+
+@dataclass
+class MacauffArguments(RuntimeArguments):
+    """Data class for holding cross-match association arguments"""
+
+    ## Input - Cross-match data
+    input_path: FilePointer | None = None
+    """path to search for the input data"""
+    input_format: str = ""
+    """specifier of the input data format. this will be used to find an appropriate
+    InputReader type, and may be used to find input files, via a match like
+    ``<input_path>/*<input_format>`` """
+    input_file_list: List[FilePointer] = field(default_factory=list)
+    """can be used instead of `input_format` to import only specified files"""
+    input_paths: List[FilePointer] = field(default_factory=list)
+    """resolved list of all files that will be used in the importer"""
+    add_hipscat_index: bool = True
+    """add the hipscat spatial index field alongside the data"""
+
+    ## Input - Left catalog
+    left_catalog_dir: str = ""
+    left_id_column: str = ""
+    left_ra_column: str = ""
+    left_dec_column: str = ""
+
+    ## Input - Right catalog
+    right_catalog_dir: str = ""
+    right_id_column: str = ""
+    right_ra_column: str = ""
+    right_dec_column: str = ""
+
+    ## `macauff` specific attributes
+    metadata_file_path: str = ""
+    match_probability_columns: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+    column_names: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+
+    def __post_init__(self):
+        self._check_arguments()
+
+    def _check_arguments(self):
+        super()._check_arguments()
+
+        if not self.input_path and not self.input_file_list:
+            raise ValueError("input_path nor input_file_list not provided")
+        if not self.input_format:
+            raise ValueError("input_format is required")
+
+        if not self.left_catalog_dir:
+            raise ValueError("left_catalog_dir is required")
+        if not self.left_id_column:
+            raise ValueError("left_id_column is required")
+        if not self.left_ra_column:
+            raise ValueError("left_ra_column is required")
+        if not self.left_dec_column:
+            raise ValueError("left_dec_column is required")
+        if not is_valid_catalog(self.left_catalog_dir):
+            raise ValueError("left_catalog_dir not a valid catalog")
+
+        if not self.right_catalog_dir:
+            raise ValueError("right_catalog_dir is required")
+        if not self.right_id_column:
+            raise ValueError("right_id_column is required")
+        if not self.right_ra_column:
+            raise ValueError("right_ra_column is required")
+        if not self.right_dec_column:
+            raise ValueError("right_dec_column is required")
+        if not is_valid_catalog(self.right_catalog_dir):
+            raise ValueError("right_catalog_dir not a valid catalog")
+
+        if not self.metadata_file_path:
+            raise ValueError("metadata_file_path required for macauff crossmatch")
+        if not path.isfile(self.metadata_file_path):
+            raise ValueError("Macauff column metadata file must point to valid file path.")
+
+        # Basic checks complete - make more checks and create directories where necessary
+        if self.input_path:
+            if not file_io.does_file_or_directory_exist(self.input_path):
+                raise FileNotFoundError("input_path not found on local storage")
+            self.input_paths = file_io.find_files_matching_path(self.input_path, f"*{self.input_format}")
+        elif self.input_file_list:
+            self.input_paths = self.input_file_list
+        if len(self.input_paths) == 0:
+            raise FileNotFoundError("No input files found")
+
+        self.column_names = self.get_column_names()
+
+    def get_column_names(self):
+        """Grab the macauff column names."""
+        # TODO: Actually read in the metadata file once we get the example file from Tom.
+
+        return [
+            "Gaia_designation",
+            "Gaia_RA",
+            "Gaia_Dec",
+            "BP",
+            "G",
+            "RP",
+            "CatWISE_Name",
+            "CatWISE_RA",
+            "CatWISE_Dec",
+            "W1",
+            "W2",
+            "match_p",
+            "Separation",
+            "eta",
+            "xi",
+            "Gaia_avg_cont",
+            "CatWISE_avg_cont",
+            "Gaia_cont_f1",
+            "Gaia_cont_f10",
+            "CatWISE_cont_f1",
+            "CatWISE_cont_f10",
+            "CatWISE_fit_sig",
+        ]
diff --git a/src/hipscat_import/cross_match/run_macauff_import.py b/src/hipscat_import/cross_match/run_macauff_import.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aad49b51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/hipscat_import/cross_match/run_macauff_import.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+from hipscat_import.cross_match.macauff_arguments import MacauffArguments
+
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+
+
+def run(args, client):
+    """run macauff cross-match import pipeline"""
+    if not args:
+        raise TypeError("args is required and should be type MacauffArguments")
+    if not isinstance(args, MacauffArguments):
+        raise TypeError("args must be type MacauffArguments")
+
+    raise NotImplementedError("macauff pipeline not implemented yet.")
diff --git a/src/hipscat_import/pipeline.py b/src/hipscat_import/pipeline.py
index d0482e44..ec253a9d 100644
--- a/src/hipscat_import/pipeline.py
+++ b/src/hipscat_import/pipeline.py
@@ -5,11 +5,13 @@
 from dask.distributed import Client
 
 import hipscat_import.catalog.run_import as catalog_runner
+import hipscat_import.cross_match.run_macauff_import as macauff_runner
 import hipscat_import.index.run_index as index_runner
 import hipscat_import.margin_cache.margin_cache as margin_runner
 import hipscat_import.soap.run_soap as soap_runner
 import hipscat_import.verification.run_verification as verification_runner
 from hipscat_import.catalog.arguments import ImportArguments
+from hipscat_import.cross_match.macauff_arguments import MacauffArguments
 from hipscat_import.index.arguments import IndexArguments
 from hipscat_import.margin_cache.margin_cache_arguments import MarginCacheArguments
 from hipscat_import.runtime_arguments import RuntimeArguments
@@ -49,6 +51,8 @@ def pipeline_with_client(args: RuntimeArguments, client: Client):
             soap_runner.run(args, client)
         elif isinstance(args, VerificationArguments):
             verification_runner.run(args)
+        elif isinstance(args, MacauffArguments):
+            macauff_runner.run(args, client)
         else:
             raise ValueError("unknown args type")
     except Exception as exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-exception-caught
diff --git a/tests/hipscat_import/conftest.py b/tests/hipscat_import/conftest.py
index dea9ea78..1d6f2d77 100644
--- a/tests/hipscat_import/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/hipscat_import/conftest.py
@@ -124,6 +124,11 @@ def formats_multiindex(test_data_dir):
     return os.path.join(test_data_dir, "test_formats", "multiindex.parquet")
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def formats_yaml(test_data_dir):
+    return os.path.join(test_data_dir, "test_formats", "macauff_metadata.yaml")
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def small_sky_parts_dir(test_data_dir):
     return os.path.join(test_data_dir, "small_sky_parts")
diff --git a/tests/hipscat_import/cross_match/test_macauff_arguments.py b/tests/hipscat_import/cross_match/test_macauff_arguments.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ab981ae0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hipscat_import/cross_match/test_macauff_arguments.py
@@ -0,0 +1,219 @@
+"""Tests of macauff arguments"""
+
+
+from os import path
+
+import pytest
+
+from hipscat_import.cross_match.macauff_arguments import MacauffArguments
+
+# pylint: disable=duplicate-code
+
+
+def test_macauff_arguments(
+    small_sky_object_catalog, small_sky_source_catalog, small_sky_dir, formats_yaml, tmp_path
+):
+    """Test that we can create a MacauffArguments instance with two valid catalogs."""
+    args = MacauffArguments(
+        output_path=tmp_path,
+        output_catalog_name="object_to_source",
+        tmp_dir=tmp_path,
+        left_catalog_dir=small_sky_object_catalog,
+        left_ra_column="ra",
+        left_dec_column="dec",
+        left_id_column="id",
+        right_catalog_dir=small_sky_source_catalog,
+        right_ra_column="source_ra",
+        right_dec_column="source_dec",
+        right_id_column="source_id",
+        input_path=small_sky_dir,
+        input_format="csv",
+        metadata_file_path=formats_yaml,
+    )
+
+    assert len(args.input_paths) > 0
+
+
+def test_empty_required(
+    small_sky_object_catalog, small_sky_source_catalog, small_sky_dir, formats_yaml, tmp_path
+):
+    """All non-runtime arguments are required."""
+
+    ## List of required args:
+    ##  - match expression that should be found when missing
+    ##  - default value
+    required_args = [
+        ["output_path", tmp_path],
+        ["output_catalog_name", "object_to_source"],
+        ["left_catalog_dir", small_sky_object_catalog],
+        ["left_ra_column", "ra"],
+        ["left_dec_column", "dec"],
+        ["left_id_column", "id"],
+        ["right_catalog_dir", small_sky_source_catalog],
+        ["right_ra_column", "source_ra"],
+        ["right_dec_column", "source_dec"],
+        ["right_id_column", "source_id"],
+        ["input_path", small_sky_dir],
+        ["input_format", "csv"],
+        ["metadata_file_path", formats_yaml],
+    ]
+
+    ## For each required argument, check that a ValueError is raised that matches the
+    ## expected name of the missing param.
+    for index, args in enumerate(required_args):
+        test_args = [
+            list_args[1] if list_index != index else None
+            for list_index, list_args in enumerate(required_args)
+        ]
+
+        print(f"testing required arg #{index}")
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=args[0]):
+            MacauffArguments(
+                output_path=test_args[0],
+                output_catalog_name=test_args[1],
+                tmp_dir=tmp_path,
+                left_catalog_dir=test_args[2],
+                left_ra_column=test_args[3],
+                left_dec_column=test_args[4],
+                left_id_column=test_args[5],
+                right_catalog_dir=test_args[6],
+                right_ra_column=test_args[7],
+                right_dec_column=test_args[8],
+                right_id_column=test_args[9],
+                input_path=test_args[10],
+                input_format=test_args[11],
+                metadata_file_path=test_args[12],
+                overwrite=True,
+            )
+
+
+def test_macauff_arguments_file_list(
+    small_sky_object_catalog, small_sky_source_catalog, small_sky_dir, formats_yaml, tmp_path
+):
+    """Test that we can create a MacauffArguments instance with two valid catalogs."""
+    files = [path.join(small_sky_dir, "catalog.csv")]
+    args = MacauffArguments(
+        output_path=tmp_path,
+        output_catalog_name="object_to_source",
+        tmp_dir=tmp_path,
+        left_catalog_dir=small_sky_object_catalog,
+        left_ra_column="ra",
+        left_dec_column="dec",
+        left_id_column="id",
+        right_catalog_dir=small_sky_source_catalog,
+        right_ra_column="source_ra",
+        right_dec_column="source_dec",
+        right_id_column="source_id",
+        input_file_list=files,
+        input_format="csv",
+        metadata_file_path=formats_yaml,
+    )
+
+    assert len(args.input_paths) > 0
+
+
+def test_macauff_args_invalid_catalog(small_sky_source_catalog, small_sky_dir, formats_yaml, tmp_path):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="left_catalog_dir"):
+        MacauffArguments(
+            output_path=tmp_path,
+            output_catalog_name="object_to_source",
+            tmp_dir=tmp_path,
+            left_catalog_dir=small_sky_dir,  # valid path, but not a catalog
+            left_ra_column="ra",
+            left_dec_column="dec",
+            left_id_column="id",
+            right_catalog_dir=small_sky_source_catalog,
+            right_ra_column="source_ra",
+            right_dec_column="source_dec",
+            right_id_column="source_id",
+            input_path=small_sky_dir,
+            input_format="csv",
+            metadata_file_path=formats_yaml,
+        )
+
+
+def test_macauff_args_right_invalid_catalog(small_sky_object_catalog, small_sky_dir, formats_yaml, tmp_path):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="right_catalog_dir"):
+        MacauffArguments(
+            output_path=tmp_path,
+            output_catalog_name="object_to_source",
+            tmp_dir=tmp_path,
+            left_catalog_dir=small_sky_object_catalog,
+            left_ra_column="ra",
+            left_dec_column="dec",
+            left_id_column="id",
+            right_catalog_dir=small_sky_dir,  # valid directory with files, not a catalog
+            right_ra_column="source_ra",
+            right_dec_column="source_dec",
+            right_id_column="source_id",
+            input_path=small_sky_dir,
+            input_format="csv",
+            metadata_file_path=formats_yaml,
+        )
+
+
+def test_macauff_args_invalid_metadata_file(
+    small_sky_object_catalog, small_sky_source_catalog, small_sky_dir, tmp_path
+):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="column metadata file must"):
+        MacauffArguments(
+            output_path=tmp_path,
+            output_catalog_name="object_to_source",
+            tmp_dir=tmp_path,
+            left_catalog_dir=small_sky_object_catalog,
+            left_ra_column="ra",
+            left_dec_column="dec",
+            left_id_column="id",
+            right_catalog_dir=small_sky_source_catalog,
+            right_ra_column="source_ra",
+            right_dec_column="source_dec",
+            right_id_column="source_id",
+            input_path=small_sky_dir,
+            input_format="csv",
+            metadata_file_path="ceci_n_est_pas_un_fichier.xml",
+        )
+
+
+def test_macauff_args_invalid_input_directory(
+    small_sky_object_catalog, small_sky_source_catalog, formats_yaml, tmp_path
+):
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError, match="input_path not found"):
+        MacauffArguments(
+            output_path=tmp_path,
+            output_catalog_name="object_to_source",
+            tmp_dir=tmp_path,
+            left_catalog_dir=small_sky_object_catalog,
+            left_ra_column="ra",
+            left_dec_column="dec",
+            left_id_column="id",
+            right_catalog_dir=small_sky_source_catalog,
+            right_ra_column="source_ra",
+            right_dec_column="source_dec",
+            right_id_column="source_id",
+            input_path="ceci_n_est_pas_un_directoire/",
+            input_format="csv",
+            metadata_file_path=formats_yaml,
+        )
+
+
+def test_macauff_args_no_files(
+    small_sky_object_catalog, small_sky_source_catalog, small_sky_dir, formats_yaml, tmp_path
+):
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError, match="No input files found"):
+        MacauffArguments(
+            output_path=tmp_path,
+            output_catalog_name="object_to_source",
+            tmp_dir=tmp_path,
+            left_catalog_dir=small_sky_object_catalog,
+            left_ra_column="ra",
+            left_dec_column="dec",
+            left_id_column="id",
+            right_catalog_dir=small_sky_source_catalog,
+            right_ra_column="source_ra",
+            right_dec_column="source_dec",
+            right_id_column="source_id",
+            input_path=small_sky_dir,
+            input_format="parquet",  # no files of this format will be found
+            metadata_file_path=formats_yaml,
+        )
diff --git a/tests/hipscat_import/cross_match/test_macauff_runner.py b/tests/hipscat_import/cross_match/test_macauff_runner.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1431b60d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hipscat_import/cross_match/test_macauff_runner.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import pytest
+
+import hipscat_import.cross_match.run_macauff_import as runner
+from hipscat_import.cross_match.macauff_arguments import MacauffArguments
+
+# pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
+# pylint: disable=duplicate-code
+
+
+@pytest.mark.dask
+def test_bad_args(dask_client):
+    """Runner should fail with empty or mis-typed arguments"""
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="MacauffArguments"):
+        runner.run(None, dask_client)
+
+    args = {"output_catalog_name": "bad_arg_type"}
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="MacauffArguments"):
+        runner.run(args, dask_client)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.dask
+def test_no_implementation(
+    small_sky_object_catalog,
+    small_sky_source_catalog,
+    small_sky_dir,
+    formats_yaml,
+    tmp_path,
+    dask_client,
+):
+    """Test that we can create a MacauffArguments instance with two valid catalogs."""
+    args = MacauffArguments(
+        output_path=tmp_path,
+        output_catalog_name="object_to_source",
+        tmp_dir=tmp_path,
+        left_catalog_dir=small_sky_object_catalog,
+        left_ra_column="ra",
+        left_dec_column="dec",
+        left_id_column="id",
+        right_catalog_dir=small_sky_source_catalog,
+        right_ra_column="source_ra",
+        right_dec_column="source_dec",
+        right_id_column="source_id",
+        input_path=small_sky_dir,
+        input_format="csv",
+        metadata_file_path=formats_yaml,
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError, match="not implemented yet."):
+        runner.run(args, dask_client)
diff --git a/tests/hipscat_import/data/test_formats/macauff_metadata.yaml b/tests/hipscat_import/data/test_formats/macauff_metadata.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e41a8357
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hipscat_import/data/test_formats/macauff_metadata.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#placeholder file while we wait for the full metadata example file.
+left_catalog_name: small_sky_object_catalog
+right_catalog_name: small_sky_source_catalog
\ No newline at end of file