The Havelock North club player made seven appearances for the Magpies in 2014, one in 2015, none in 2016 and two last year. His last game against Otago was when the Magpies walloped them 41-0 in a Ranfurly Shield defence in 2014.
"I haven't really thought too much about playing against the old team. There are only two players in this week's side who were down there when I played for them ... players tick over so much these days," Evans said, indicating captain and hooker, Hastings Boys' High School product Sam Anderson-Heather and centre Matt Faddes.
"I know Otago have some pretty exciting backs and it will be a dry night in the stadium. If we can keep our forward play going as well as it did last weekend and shut down their backs we should do well," Evans said.
He was happy with last weekend's 31-10 win against the Southland Stags in Invercargill.
"It wasn't perfect but we still have a lot of new boys."
Evans, 27, agreed the Magpies need to improve their discipline after conceding 14 penalties, 10 of them defensive, against the Stags.
"There was a bit of ill discipline there. The yellow card I got wasn't too cynical. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time when we were under a final warning. While we are not going to shy away at the breakdown we just have to be more selective with when we attack the ball," Evans explained.
He pointed out the Magpies have benefitted from spending this week and training at the Dunedin Sharks club which he had fellow vice captain, former All Black halfback Brad Weber, played for.
"We've got a pretty green team so it has been a good chance for us all to connect. Brad took a few of us around the sights down here so that was a good time to bond too," he added.
Weber has recovered from his ankle injury collected against the Stags and will start tonight. This has allowed Magpies head coach Mark Ozich to make two changes to his starting XV.
Hurricanes and Maori All Black prop Ben May replaces Joe Apikotoa who fills the berth vacated by May on the subs bench. Pasqualle Dunn replaces Sasa Tofilau at second five-eighth and Tofilau replaces Dunn on the pine.
"Pasqualle deserves an opportunity after the impact he had against the Stags. He was really direct," Ozich said.
Dunn made four carries for an average gain of 3.3 metres against Southland. He beat two defenders and was error free on defence while making six tackles.
Ozich has been impressed with the manner in which his troops have utilised their extended time together this week.
"We have managed to get more clarity on some of our roles and connections."
He added the death of former Magpie and Maori All Black Heitia Hiha on Wednesday has added to his team's motivation this week.
While the Magpies will be keen to improve their discipline they will also need to reduce their missed tackle count and turnovers conceded tally against the Stags which were 14 and 16 respectively. Otago will be eager to redeem themselves after their first round 34-16 loss to Wellington.
Anderson-Heather and Highlanders prop Aki Seiuli are handy frontrowers. Faddes and All Black Sevens star Vilimoni Koroi are talented backs who will have to be marked closely.
Teams for the 5.45am game:
Otago: Vilimoni Koroi, Mitchell Scott, Matt Faddes, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Josh Ioane, Josh Renton, Sione Misiloi, Slade McDowall, Naulia Dawai, Josh Dickson, Tom Rowe, Hisa Sasagi, Sam Anderson-Heather (captain), Aki Seiuli. Substitutes: Forwards, Sekonaia Pole, Tom Hill, Donald Brighouse, Joketani Koroi, Sam Dickson. Backs, Kurt Hammer, Matt Whaanga, Josh Timu.
Hawke's Bay: JJ Taulagi, Jonah Lowe, Stacey Ili, Pasqualle Dunn, Mason Emerson, Tiaan Falcon, Brad Weber (vice captain), Gareth Evans (vice captain), Josh Kaifa, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Michael Allardice, Tom Parsons, Ben May, Ash Dixon (captain), Mark Braidwood. Substitutes: Forwards, Ben Power, Joe Apikotoa, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Sam Ulufonua, Devan Flanders. Backs, Folau Fakatava, Sasa Tofilau, Michael Buckley.
