Direction for guardians? (9)

I believe the answer is:

rearwards

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'guardians?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

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(Another definition for rearwards that I've seen is " towards the back".)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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