"Abdoul is a respectable opponent and can give me a sterner test than Cruzat, " said Swansea's Maccarinelli.

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But he acknowledged that coming down the stretch in contention for a first major title would be a sterner test of his emotions in the wake of his father's passing.

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Mr Brown cannot be so naive as to suppose that such a time will never come, but when it does he may find it a sterner test than he suspects.

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The Potters provided a far sterner test than West Brom and Wigan - Chelsea's previous two opponents in a free-scoring start to the season - but they were unable to stop Carlo Ancelotti's side chalking up an eighth straight home league win.

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The Black Caps, fresh off their victory over England in the NatWest series, should provide a much sterner test than short-handed Ireland.

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