Drive back so as to swim around the pierhead (5)

I believe the answer is:

repel

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'drive back' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'swim around the pierhead' is the wordplay.
'swim' becomes 'reel' (I've seen this before).
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'the pierhead' becomes 'p' (head letter of 'pier').
'reel' placed around 'p' is 'REPEL'.

'so as to' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for repel that I've seen before include "Sicken" , "Be effective in controlling" , "Drive back, rebuff" , "Fill with distaste" , "Fend off" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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