Rick provides small fastener (5)
I believe the answer is:
stack
'rick' is the definition.
(I know that rick is a more specific form of stack)
'small fastener' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'fastener' becomes 'tack' (tack is a kind of fastener).
's'+'tack'='STACK'
'provides' is the link.
(Other definitions for stack that I've seen before include "Pile of hay" , "A lot" , "Place in ordered pile" , "functioned successfully in Scotland" , "Tall chimney" .)