Atlas, for example, might indicate eastern deserts (9)
I believe the answer is:
muscleman
'atlas for example' is the definition.
(muscular titan in Greek myth)
'might indicate eastern deserts' is the wordplay.
'might' becomes 'muscle' (both can mean strength).
'indicate' becomes 'mean' (I've seen this in another clue).
'eastern' becomes 'e'.
'deserts' is a deletion indicator.
'mean' with 'e' removed is 'man'.
'muscle'+'man'='MUSCLEMAN'
(Other definitions for muscleman that I've seen before include "Bodybuilder" , "Heavy" .)