The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word SEEDS
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Drill may be prepared for these/top players" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case drill may be prepared for these/top players = seeds.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SEEDS mean?
SEEDS noun- A fertilized and ripened ovule, containing an embryonic plant.
- Any small seed-like fruit.
- Any propagative portion of a plant which may be sown, such as true seeds, seed-like fruits, tubers, or bulbs.
- (collective) An amount of seeds that cannot be readily counted.
- A fragment of coral.
- Semen.
- A precursor.
- The initial state, condition or position of a changing, growing or developing process; the ultimate precursor in a defined chain of precursors.
- Offspring, descendants, progeny.
- Race; generation; birth.
- A small bubble formed in imperfectly fused glass.
- To plant or sow an area with seeds.
- To cover thinly with something scattered; to ornament with seedlike decorations.
- To start; to provide, assign or determine the initial resources for, position of, state of.
- To allocate a seeding to a competitor.
- To leave (files) available for others to download through peer-to-peer file sharing protocols (e.g. BitTorrent).
- To be qualified to compete, especially in a quarter-final, semi-final or final.
- To produce seed.
- To grow to maturity.
- To ejaculate inside the penetratee during intercourse, especially in the rectum.