A capital position to be in (5)

I believe the answer is:

ahead

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'position to be in' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'a capital' is the wordplay.
'capital' becomes 'head' ().
'a'+'head'='AHEAD'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ahead that I've seen before include "In the vanguard" , "at pole" , "In the lead, in advance" , "In front as in race" , "What's down the road" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail, The Telegraph and The Guardian.

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