battle of wills
clash of wills
test of wills

In a different way, another clash of wills was taking place in the villa.

I did not want to meet him head-on in a clash of wills.

I considered it no more than a clash of wills, his against mine.

There would be an interesting clash of wills then.

Shelley was intrigued by this first clash of wills between them.

So they faced each other in a silent clash of wills.

He'd met and held the man in a silent clash of wills.

But they felt the struggle, the clash of wills.

It had been the first clash of wills between her and Jeremy.

Their presence only suggested a clash of wills over Tarn.