The phrase "a potential contender to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone or something that has the possibility of competing for a title, position, or recognition.
Example: "The young athlete is seen as a potential contender to win the championship this year."
Alternatives: "a possible rival to" or "a likely competitor for".
The mayor, tipped to be a potential contender to replace David Cameron, was responding to concerns raised by Jenny Jones, London Assembly Green Party member.
The name of former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was chanted within seconds, along with support for Abramovich, but there was a chorus of abuse and disapproval at the prospect of former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez emerging as a potential contender to succeed Villas-Boas.
Yet Mr. Westly sits on the sidelines, a potential contender content to observe.
Some saw the transactions as savvy moves to save money while bringing in undervalued players, while others bemoaned a potential contender gutting itself to save money.
However, it can also derail a potential contender before it has a chance to come to fruition.
(Steve Case, AOL's former chairman and C.E.O., says that Mossberg's column "helped move us from the status of just another wannabe to a potential contender").
In an interview on Wednesday, Dr. Tisch categorically denied rumors, newspaper articles and even an item in The New York Post's Page Six column that suggested her as a potential contender in the 2013 race to succeed Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
In an interview on Wednesday, Dr. Tisch categorically denied rumors, newspaper articles, blog posts and even an item in The New York Post's Page Six column that suggested her as a potential contender in the 2013 race to succeed Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
He had been felt by many to be a potential contender this year for his acclaimed role as an ageing Sherlock Holmes in Bill Condon's Mr Holmes; but he missed nominations from most major awards bodies.
Those numbers include some but not all of the money that's been raised through state PACs -- a tactic that allows potential contenders to take advantage of more lenient state fundraising rules.
Summer 2011 – A whole new iPad and a potential contender from another corner, potentially Microsoft's Courier product.
