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Really struggling to finish this. Can't solve the 1st of 5 nor the 2nd of 9a. I assume the instruction is 5,4,6,2,4, but what it means eludes me.

You need to consider 4,6. The general implication is very clear once you see it: exactly what's required is less obvious to me: I've done what seems natural.

gitto:

5: add a letter to the 2nd word and apply that to the 1st minus AS

9: def is miss. Add a letter to earl

I don't think we should give away how to interpret the instruction, sorry.

Pretty tricky I thought.

The use of "crawfish" at 9 across was, for me, fiendish. How anybody manages these without the BRB staggers me!

Just struggling with the "spook....." solution at 6 across. I'm assuming a double definition, but the strictures of the preamble and two unches leave a myriad of possible solutions, and I can't see one just now.

Look at the 2nd definition of spook in the BRB, then think JLC. End game still has me flummoxed.

Thanks, gitto.

Thanks again, gitto.

I had that definition as most likely, but made life hard work by not having properly taken in the preamble. When the penny dropped that the three letters I had must form part of the solution then it was pretty plain sailing - if I have the correct SPOOK that is!!

Are my clashes correct? I have one in one column and 4 in each of two more.

Early days for me on this but making steady progress on a number of clues. Can I check if the answers for the first and second clues in each number are entered in the left and right side of the grid respectively or can they go on either side?

They can go either way round.