This question arose at Words and Wickets, a splendid day at Wormsley that combined cricket and literature into a potent draft.
In recent weeks a significant novelty in the regional mix has been the greater effectiveness of Saudi Arabia, which is now working with its old rivals Qatar and Turkey to build a more potent coalition of non-Isis Syrian rebel groups fighting Assad on the ground, not just from 30,000ft.
On the other hand, Australia have been by far the most potent side going forward, hitting the back of the net 12 times, a goal a game more, on average, than their opponents on Saturday.
So we are only a month away from a general election in which Johnson's electoral reach will be tested as never before, and perhaps from a Conservative leadership contest in which his presumed popularity would be a potent factor.
O'Connor, who played at fly-half for the Wallabies in all three Lions Tests last summer, saw his Wallabies contract torn up a few weeks ago after his latest "alcohol-related" incident, but on the pitch he remains a potent force.
If you wanted to get a fancy scarf, pair of boots or a potent yellow condiment this was the place to come... now it's known for its huge array of independent shops.
The toxicity of Farage with large parts of the electorate means that concerns over a possible Conservative-Ukip deal could become a potent factor during the campaign – and more so after 7 May if Cameron were to discover that he needs Ukip's support to form a government.
Real power is power too potent, too indispensable, to pause or freeze or postpone.
A rare note of harmony was sounded at the fractious UN climate change talks in Doha on Thursday, when countries agreed to take strong action on some of the most potent causes of global warming.
While the Scotch Whisky Association had waged a substantial lobbying campaign to get the duty cut by 2p, Osborne was also lobbied directly by retiring Lib Dem MP Sir Malcolm Bruce and his successor Christine Jardine, who is attempting to hold onto Bruce's seat of Gordon against a potent challenge from Salmond.
On Australia Day the flag is as much a potent symbol of ugly You Flew Here We Grew Here nationalism and territorial exclusion as generous patriotic pride.
