MAX Gawn says he’s ready to take on another in-form ruckman, Ben McEvoy, when Melbourne takes on Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking a couple of hours before the game, Gawn said McEvoy was set to provide him with a  genuine contest.

“I’ve actually played ‘Big Boy’ [McEvoy] a lot,” he told Melbourne Media.

“We’ve played each other in the VFL a little bit as well.

“He’s a very good player and has got a very good tank – he stays nice and strong and tall until the final siren. It’s going to be an exciting battle.”

Gawn added that he couldn’t see Melbourne letting red-hot midfielder Tom Mitchell rack possessions up at will, while he said this round’s clash was another test for his side.

“I don’t mind the overcast conditions,” he said.

“Hopefully the rain stays away and there is a little bit of marking weather.

“It’s an exciting day for the club. We get to play Hawthorn – they’ve been a good team for the last decade and it’s exciting to see how we’re going, so it’s a good little test.”