Place in the upper three (5)
I believe the answer is:
perth
'place' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'in the upper three' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'PERTH' is hidden within 'upper three'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for perth that I've seen before include "Period (of effort)" , "Australian state capital" , "Home of fair maid" , "Western Australia's capital" , "Town at the head of the Tay estuary" .)