Like some players, strain on pitch (8)
I believe the answer is:
typecast
'like some players' is the definition.
'strain on pitch' is the wordplay.
'strain' becomes 'type'.
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'pitch' becomes 'cast' (I've seen this before**).
'type'+'cast'='TYPECAST'
(Other definitions for typecast that I've seen before include "with no variation in roles" , "in the usual parts" , "Given the same sort of parts" , "Always given the same sort of roles" , "fitting a standard image" .)