After playing set, no-hoper is close to defeat (2,3,5)
I believe the answer is:
on the ropes
'close to defeat' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'after playing set no-hoper' is the wordplay.
'after playing' indicates anagramming the letters.
'set'+'no'+'hoper'='setnohoper'
'setnohoper' is an anagram of 'ON THE ROPES'.
'is' is the link.
(Other definitions for on the ropes that I've seen before include "Close to collapse" , "Badly placed in the ring" , "close to defeat" , "In a state of near collapse" , "near defeat" .)