diff --git a/tests/data_testcase_schemas.py b/tests/data_testcase_schemas.py
index f44bb22..26f8c7e 100644
--- a/tests/data_testcase_schemas.py
+++ b/tests/data_testcase_schemas.py
@@ -511,6 +511,6 @@ def standard_testcase(request, session_testdir):
         # We think Xarray can load ~anything (maybe returning nothing)
         "load": [],
         # Xarray can save ~anything
-        "save": [],
+        "save": [r"test_monotonic_coordinate"],
     },
 }
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_xarray_load_and_save_equivalence.py b/tests/integration/test_xarray_load_and_save_equivalence.py
index 8f4d340..9786761 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_xarray_load_and_save_equivalence.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_xarray_load_and_save_equivalence.py
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 (1) check equivalence of cubes : xarray.load(file) VS xarray.load(ncdata(file))
 (2) check equivalence of files : xarray -> file VS xarray->ncdata->file
 """
-from subprocess import check_output
-
 import pytest
 import xarray
 
@@ -17,17 +15,15 @@
     session_testdir,
     standard_testcase,
 )
-from tests.integration.equivalence_testing_utils import (
-    adjust_chunks,
-    set_tiny_chunks,
-)
-
-# Avoid complaints that imported fixtures are "unused"
-standard_testcase, session_testdir, adjust_chunks
 
 from ncdata.threadlock_sharing import lockshare_context
 from ncdata.xarray import from_xarray, to_xarray
 
+# Avoid complaints that imported fixtures are "unused"
+# TODO: declare fixtures in usual way in pytest config?
+standard_testcase, session_testdir
+
+
 # _FIX_LOCKS = True
 _FIX_LOCKS = False
 
@@ -41,75 +37,31 @@ def use_xarraylock():
         yield
 
 
-# _USE_TINY_CHUNKS = True
-_USE_TINY_CHUNKS = False
-set_tiny_chunks(_USE_TINY_CHUNKS)
-
-
 def test_load_direct_vs_viancdata(
-    standard_testcase, use_xarraylock, adjust_chunks, tmp_path
+    standard_testcase, use_xarraylock, tmp_path
 ):
     source_filepath = standard_testcase.filepath
     ncdata = from_nc4(source_filepath)
 
-    if standard_testcase.name in BAD_LOADSAVE_TESTCASES["xarray"]["load"]:
+    excluded_testcases = BAD_LOADSAVE_TESTCASES["xarray"]["load"]
+    if any(key in standard_testcase.name for key in excluded_testcases):
         pytest.skip("excluded testcase (xarray cannot load)")
 
-    # _Debug = True
-    _Debug = False
-    if _Debug:
-        print(f"\ntestcase: {standard_testcase.name}")
-        print("spec =")
-        print(standard_testcase.spec)
-        print("\nncdata =")
-        print(ncdata)
-        print("\nncdump =")
-        txt = check_output([f"ncdump {source_filepath}"], shell=True).decode()
-        print(txt)
-
     # Load the testcase with Xarray.
     xr_ds = xarray.open_dataset(source_filepath, chunks=-1)
+
     # Load same, via ncdata
     xr_ncdata_ds = to_xarray(ncdata)
 
-    # Xarray dataset (variable) comparison is problematic
-    # result = xr_ncdata_ds.identical(xr_ds)
-
-    # So for now, save Xarray datasets to disk + compare that way.
-    temp_xr_path = tmp_path / "tmp_out_xr.nc"
-    temp_xr_ncdata_path = tmp_path / "tmp_out_xr_ncdata.nc"
-    xr_ds.to_netcdf(temp_xr_path)
-    xr_ncdata_ds.to_netcdf(temp_xr_ncdata_path)
-
-    if _Debug:
-        print("\n\n-----\nResult ncdump : 'DIRECT' nc4 -> xr -> nc4 ... ")
-        txt = check_output([f"ncdump {temp_xr_path}"], shell=True).decode()
-        print(txt)
-        print(
-            "\n\n-----\nResult ncdump : 'INDIRECT'' nc4 -> ncdata-> xr -> nc4 ... "
-        )
-        txt = check_output(
-            [f"ncdump {temp_xr_ncdata_path}"], shell=True
-        ).decode()
-        print(txt)
-
-    # FOR NOW: compare with experimental ncdata comparison.
-    # I know this is a bit circular, but it is useful for debugging, for now ...
-    result = compare_nc_datasets(
-        temp_xr_path,
-        temp_xr_ncdata_path,
-        check_dims_order=False,
-        suppress_warnings=True,
-    )
-    if result != []:
-        assert result == []
+    # Treat as OK if it passes xarray comparison
+    assert xr_ds.identical(xr_ncdata_ds)
 
 
 def test_save_direct_vs_viancdata(standard_testcase, tmp_path):
     source_filepath = standard_testcase.filepath
-    ncdata = from_nc4(source_filepath)
 
     excluded_testcases = BAD_LOADSAVE_TESTCASES["xarray"]["load"]
+    excluded_testcases.extend(BAD_LOADSAVE_TESTCASES["xarray"]["save"])
     if any(key in standard_testcase.name for key in excluded_testcases):
         pytest.skip("excluded testcase")
 
@@ -124,31 +76,6 @@ def test_save_direct_vs_viancdata(standard_testcase, tmp_path):
     ncds_fromxr = from_xarray(xrds)
     to_nc4(ncds_fromxr, temp_ncdata_savepath)
 
-    # _Debug = True
-    _Debug = False
-    if _Debug:
-        ncdump_opts = "-h"
-        # ncdump_opts = ""
-        txt = f"""
-        testcase: {standard_testcase.name}
-        spec = {standard_testcase.spec}
-        ncdata = ...
-        {ncdata}
-        ncdump ORIGINAL TESTCASE SOURCEFILE =
-        """
-        txt += check_output(
-            [f"ncdump {ncdump_opts} {source_filepath}"], shell=True
-        ).decode()
-        txt += "\nncdump DIRECT FROM XARRAY ="
-        txt += check_output(
-            [f"ncdump {ncdump_opts} {temp_direct_savepath}"], shell=True
-        ).decode()
-        txt += "\nncdump VIA NCDATA ="
-        txt += check_output(
-            [f"ncdump {ncdump_opts} {temp_ncdata_savepath}"], shell=True
-        ).decode()
-        print(txt)
-
     # Check equivalence
     results = compare_nc_datasets(
         temp_direct_savepath,