Replacing (or repairing) Clutch Cover on 13" MacBook Air (2012-2013)

The clutch cover on my wife’s 13” Macbook Air (I believe it’s a 2013) is cracked.

I haven’t seen a repair guide that specifically addresses it. Do I need to remove the display? That means taking apart pretty much the whole thing, which doesn’t thrill me. Also, the screen replacement guides on iFixit don’t seem to discuss the actual removal and re-installation of the clutch cover, which may be straightforward but I don’t feel like fumbling my way through it without knowing what I’m doing.

I hate to take the whole laptop apart to replace a $10 piece of plastic. Alternately, is there a reasonable way to fix the plastic piece from the outside without messing up the hinge?