They face a London derby at Spurs on 17 April, also entertain Stoke a week later, and then face possibly the sternest test of their title ambitions at Liverpool on 1 May.
However, a much greater test of their title mettle awaits Kearney's men when they face favourites Australia in Melbourne next Saturday, while PNG must now pick themselves up for their clash with England in Auckland on the same day.
Scudamore did concede the title of the test may need to be changed and revealed that Premier League clubs can vote if they wanted the criteria changed.
"This is the big test, to win a European title, and it's the proper route to go down, " added Watt.
Among a host of high-profile offenders, US cyclist Floyd Landis was stripped of his 2006 Tour title for a positive drugs test.
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.
Former teammate Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after failing a drug test, filed the lawsuit in 2010 against the team, which was sponsored the U.S. Postal Service.
CNN: Feds join whistle-blower lawsuit against Lance Armstrong
But Armstrong has long been dogged by doping allegations, with compatriot Floyd Landis -- who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after failing a drug test -- making a series of claims in 2011.
The win gave the Springboks their third Tri-Nations title and also saw them record three consecutive Test victories over the defending champions for the first time since 1976.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had insisted beforehand that his side were ready to launch a title assault this season and this was an early test of their credentials.
The Ninth Circuit rejected this, holding that the key test is whether as a matter of contract the software provider retained title.
World No.2 Federer knows formidable Czech Berdych will offer a difficult test as he bids fora place in the final and his 77th career title.
The title will be decided after Sunday's cross-country test and Monday's showjumping finale, with Fox-Pitt, Funnell and Oliver Townend among other British contenders for the 2011 crown.
The second set also proved a test of character for the unseeded Spaniard, after a match point against the title winner of 2007 and 2008 went begging with the set at 5-3.
The true test will come in late spring in Paris, where Nadal will defend his 2012 title at the French Open, a tournament he's won an astonishing seven times.
The Light Blues headed into the customary tough test in the Granite City hoping leaders Celtic would slip up at Tannadice, with the title race reaching epic proportions.
The Algarve test will be the first time Hamilton has driven an F1 car at speed since clinching the title and becoming F1's youngest ever champion in Brazil last November.
If they meet in the final, it would be Nadal's biggest test since his return, the first real gauge of his chance to win an eighth French Open title this June.
But the acid test will come at the 2004 Australian Open, when as a seeded player and a recent winner of a Masters title, Henman will be counted, if not as a favourite, a definite contender.
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