Four of Harvard's varsity teams will face major challenges to successful seasons this weekend.

The Harvard hockey team currently leads the Ivy League and has established an early season 7-1-1 record. The Crimson, however, must face defending champion Cornell this Saturday in Ithaca. The Big Red lost to Brown last month, 3-2. but star center Kevin Petit has returned from an injury to lead Cornell through six straight victories.

The basketball team faces the top teams in the Ivy League, Penn and Princeton, on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. Penn is undefeated and ranked fifth in the nation. Princeton lost to Penn Monday by only eight points and is led by several outstanding sophomores from an undefeated freshman team.

The swimming team hopes to establish itself as a contender in the Eastern League with a victory over powerful Dartmouth. The Indians lost only to Yale last winter to finish second in the league for the second consecutive year. The Crimson has split two league matches this year with Army and Navy.

The Crimson squash team will travel to Navy on Saturday. The Midshipmen took three points in their match at Penn, and Navy rarely loses on its home courts.