Crossword Genius

Early stage shoe's warmer (4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

heat pump

'warmer' is the definition.
(device which warms something up)

'early stage shoe's' is the wordplay.
'early stage' becomes 'heat' (early stage of a sporting contest).
'shoe' becomes 'pump' (pump is a kind of shoe).
'heat'+'pump'='HEAT PUMP'

(Other definitions for heat pump that I've seen before include "Mover of energy from cold to hot region" , "Device used in fridge" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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