Avoids backing favourites in teams (9)

I believe the answer is:

sidesteps

'avoids' is the definition.
(sidestepping is a kind of avoiding)

'backing favourites in teams' is the wordplay.
'backing' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'favourites' becomes 'pets' ('pet' can be a synonym of 'favourite').
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'teams' becomes 'sides' (I've seen this before).
'pets' backwards is 'step'.
'step' inserted within 'sides' is 'SIDESTEPS'.

(Another definition for sidesteps that I've seen is " Avoids".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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