diff --git a/checkstyle/src/plugin-test/maven.xml b/checkstyle/src/plugin-test/maven.xml
index 842d7639..179f195e 100644
--- a/checkstyle/src/plugin-test/maven.xml
+++ b/checkstyle/src/plugin-test/maven.xml
@@ -18,18 +18,15 @@
 <project 
     xmlns:util="jelly:util"
     xmlns:j="jelly:core"
-    xmlns:x="jelly:xml">
+    xmlns:x="jelly:xml"
+    xmlns:assert="assert">
          
   <goal name="testPlugin" prereqs="clean,test-checkstyle-report">
   </goal>
   
   <goal name="test-checkstyle-report">
     <attainGoal name="checkstyle:report"/>
-    <j:set var="expectedFile" value="${maven.gen.docs}/checkstyle-report.xml"/>
-    <util:file var="file" name="${expectedFile}" />
-    <j:if test="${!(file.exists())}">
-      <fail>${expectedFile} not generated</fail>
-    </j:if>
+    <assert:assertFileExists file="${maven.gen.docs}/checkstyle-report.xml"/>
 
     <!-- Verify that there are no Boolean instantiation errors as we have
          excluded the SuppressionFilterSample java file from the checks -->
diff --git a/checkstyle/xdocs/changes.xml b/checkstyle/xdocs/changes.xml
index a9e9ef84..30dd19c5 100644
--- a/checkstyle/xdocs/changes.xml
+++ b/checkstyle/xdocs/changes.xml
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
   </properties>
   <body> 
     <release version="2.5-SNAPSHOT" date="In CVS">
+      <action dev="dion" type="update">Use assert taglib in plugin test.</action>
       <action dev="vmassol" type="add">
         Added generation of a Checkstyle RSS feed.
       </action>
diff --git a/clean/project.xml b/clean/project.xml
index 73afe323..5d5d76ea 100644
--- a/clean/project.xml
+++ b/clean/project.xml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
   <pomVersion>3</pomVersion>
   <id>maven-clean-plugin</id>
   <name>Maven Clean Plugin</name>
-  <currentVersion>1.3</currentVersion>
+  <currentVersion>1.4-SNAPSHOT</currentVersion>
   <description/>
   <shortDescription>Clean plugin for Maven</shortDescription>
   <url>http://maven.apache.org/reference/plugins/clean/</url>
diff --git a/clean/src/plugin-test/maven.xml b/clean/src/plugin-test/maven.xml
index ea027097..209908f1 100644
--- a/clean/src/plugin-test/maven.xml
+++ b/clean/src/plugin-test/maven.xml
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
  -->
-<project xmlns:j="jelly:core" xmlns:u="jelly:util">
+<project xmlns:assert="assert"
+         xmlns:j="jelly:core" 
+         xmlns:u="jelly:util">
 
   <goal name="testPlugin" prereqs="test-clean">
   </goal>
@@ -24,10 +26,6 @@
     <mkdir dir="${maven.build.dir}"/>
     <attainGoal name="clean"/>
 
-    <u:file var="target" name="${maven.build.dir}"/>
-    <j:if test="${(target.exists())}">
-      <fail>maven.build.dir was not deleted</fail>
-    </j:if>
-
+    <assert:assertFileNotFound file="${maven.build.dir}"/>
   </goal>
 </project>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/clean/xdocs/changes.xml b/clean/xdocs/changes.xml
index a948fd7f..11ad16ca 100644
--- a/clean/xdocs/changes.xml
+++ b/clean/xdocs/changes.xml
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
     <author email="evenisse@ifrance.com">Emmanuel Venisse</author>
   </properties>
   <body>
+    <release version="1.4-SNAPSHOT" date="in CVS">
+      <action dev="dion" type="update">Use assert taglib in plugin test.</action>
+    </release>
     <release version="1.3" date="2004-06-19">
       <action dev="brett" type="fix" issue="MPCLEAN-1">Also clean maven.build.dest in case it is moved outside maven.build.dir</action>
     </release>
