Be reluctant to suspend defender (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
hang back
'be reluctant' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'suspend defender' is the wordplay.
'suspend' becomes 'hang' (to hang is to suspend from something).
'defender' becomes 'back' (I've seen this before).
'hang'+'back'='HANG BACK'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hang back that I've seen before include "Show reluctance" , "Remain behind" , "Get behind" .)