Crossword Genius

Spirits and dope used by team? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

genii

'spirits' is the definition.
(plural of genie or genius)

'dope used by team?' is the wordplay.
'dope' becomes 'gen' (both can mean information).
'used by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'team?' becomes 'ii'.
'gen'+'ii'='GENII'

'and' is the link.

(Other definitions for genii that I've seen before include "Personal spirits" , "Demons with magical powers" , "masterminds" , "Spirits that could grant wishes" , "Spirits such as Aladdin's" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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