Six of her Wales team-mates will be going into battle with her when the Bears host Sale Sharks in Round 4 of the tournament this weekend.
The international No 8 returns to the starting XV having come off the bench in her club’s last outing – a record-breaking 115-0 drubbing of DMP Durham Sharks. Returning to the Bristol pack with her will be Welsh lock Natalia John.
John will go head-to-head with Teleri Wyn Davies, who will be at the heart of a Sale Sharks team looking to earn their first win of what has already been a season of more than a few shocks.
“It’s great being top of the table after wins over Exeter, Gloucester-Hartpury and then Durham. But we know we’ve got three tough games coming up,” said Lillicrap.
“There have been lots of changes at the Bears this year with the recruitment of Dave Ward as head coach. We’ve also moved to the high performance centre to share facilities with the men.
“That has been a game changer for us, being able to embed ourselves in a professional environment. It has meant everyone has upped their game.
“Pat Lam is always around our environment, which is massive. He came to our first game, took some notes and passed on a few tips.
“He came up to me at training recently, gave me a fist pump and said ‘Hi Siwan, how are you’. He is taking a real interest and the culture he is building at the Bears applies across the men’s and women’s squads.
“We get some of the men’s squad coming to our games and James Joyce realises now he is not the best ‘Joyce’ in the club any more, that’s Jasmine!”
The speedy Wales wing has just returned from Team GB Sevens duty and misses the league clash with Sale. In her absence, Courtney Keight will be hoping to add to the four tries she plundered against DMP Durham.
Manon Johnes and Alisha Butchers pack down in the back row alongside Lillicrap and Keira Bevan will once again be feeding Elinor Snowsill at half-back. Back on the wing for Sale Sharks will be Jess Kavanagh, while Molly Kelly packs down at hooker with new USA Eagles recruits Catie Benson and Nicole James propping her up.
“There are a few Welsh girls in the Sharks side who we know all about and they’ve brought in some Americans this week. But we are confident in our game plan and we are only concentrating on ourselves,” added Lillicrap.
Hot on the heels of the Bears are last season’s runners-up, Saracens, who are also unbeaten. They head to Worcester Warriors with Donna Rose and Georgia Evans starting in a strong side, although they will be tested by a home pack containing three experienced Welsh internationals in Carys Phillips, Alex Callender and Sioned Harries.
Gloucester-Hartpury will have Lleucu George at No 10 for them in their home clash with reigning champions Harlequins as Robyn Wilkins drops to the bench. There are four Welsh caps in the home pack in props Cara Hopes and Cerys Hale, lock Gwen Crabb and flanker Bethan Lewis.
Abbie Fleming is on the bench for Exeter Chiefs, who host Wasps, with Flo Williams at 10 in a live streamed game, while DMP Durham Sharks welcome Loughborough Lightning.
