Crossword Genius

Count on time for hard work (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

graft

'hard work' is the definition.
(graft can mean working hard)

'count on time' is the wordplay.
'count' becomes 'graf' (German aristocratic title equivalent to count).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (in a down clue, letters appear on others).
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'graf'+'t'='GRAFT'

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for graft that I've seen before include "Transfer of tissue - hard work!" , "Labour" , "Slip" , "Means of propagation - hard work?" , "Surgical transplant" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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