Crossword Genius

Describing Wolves: policy to protect leading position (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lupine

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'describing wolves' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'policy to protect leading position' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'leading' could be 'up' (up can mean winning a sports match) and 'up' is found within the answer.
'policy' could be 'line' (the party line is a party's policy on something) and 'line' is present in the leftover letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lupine that I've seen before include "ike wolves" , "Wolflike" , "Like some ferocious beast" , "Wolfish" , "Like a wolf" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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