Start of stamina work which scares old playmaker (8)

I believe the answer is:

schiller

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'start of stamina work which scares old playmaker' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

This is the entire clue.

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(Other definitions for schiller that I've seen before include "German poet, dramatist; William Tell, Maria Stuart" , "German writer" , "Author of Ode to Joy" , "German author" , "German dramatist (Maria Stuart, Wallenstein etc.)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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