Surviving without sports clubs, or in the club (9)
I believe the answer is:
expectant
'in the club' is the definition.
(both can mean pregnant)
'surviving without sports clubs' is the wordplay.
'surviving' becomes 'extant' (similar in meaning).
'without' indicates putting letters inside ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'sports' becomes 'pe' (Physical Education).
'clubs' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used in card games such as bridge).
'pe'+'c'='pec'
'extant' placed around 'pec' is 'EXPECTANT'.
'or' is the link.
(Other definitions for expectant that I've seen before include "Eagerly awaiting" , "Anticipating" , "Pregnant" , "Agog" , "Waiting for something" .)