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Only one thing is certain about the Harvard baseball team's spring break trip to Florida: the players will return with enviable tans.

But success or failure is more than skin deep. The eight-game trip will be the team's first outdoor showing of the spring, and Coach Alex Nahigian hopes to learn something about his squad's muscle as they face several pro farm teams and the Universities of Tampa and South Florida.

Some of the key muscles belong to third baseman Elliott Rivera, pitcher Doug Sutton and shortstop Tony DiCesare. All hope to prove that their arm injuries are history. If Rivera's tendinitis flares up, he may have to move to first base. If Sutton can't pitch seven innings without soreness in his arm, he'll have difficulty earning a starting spot. And if DiCesare, whose arm has been great in practice, can't throw consistently, Bob Kay may become this year's shortstop.

On offense, the muscle problem looks a little different. Last year's Eastern League champions lost more than half their RBIs and more than half their home runs to graduation. Nahigian will look to Rivera, Scott Vierra, Bruce Weller, Mickey Maspons and Jim DePalo to replace the missing punch.

Pitching remains the biggest question, with only two sure starters. Jeff Musselman and Charlie Marchese and no reliever in sight. That leaves Nahigian with at least three spots and a lot of inexperienced players trying to fill them.