Premier to initiate opening strike (5,5)
I believe the answer is:
first blood
'opening strike' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.
'premier to initiate' is the wordplay.
'premier' becomes 'first' (similar in meaning).
'to initiate' becomes 'blood' (blood can mean to initiate someone in an activity).
'first'+'blood'='FIRST BLOOD'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for first blood that I've seen is " early hit".)