Crossword Genius

Quietly changes shapes in advance (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

preforms

'shapes in advance' is the definition.
(to form or mould at an earlier time)

'quietly changes' is the wordplay.
'quietly' becomes 'p' (p for piano and quiet).
'changes' becomes 'reforms' (reform is a kind of change).
'p'+'reforms'='PREFORMS'

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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