It's a clash the Magpies must win to keep their chances of a home semifinal alive.
"I felt like I could compete against the Canterbury pair. They had a go at our lineout as we thought they would. They had two games to watch us and we didn't have much time to change much," Parsons said, referring to the fact the Canterbury match was the Magpies' third in nine days.
The 1.98m tall Parsons, who weighs 112kg, is doing enough to put his hand up for Super Rugby selection.
"Most teams are pretty full. But I wouldn't mind an opportunity at that level if it came."
Parsons, who earned his Magpies blazer for 1000 minutes last weekend, clocked up 29 games for the Turbos during the 2015-17 seasons after turning out for the Magpies in 2012-14. He knows what to expect from the Turbos.
"They will bring a hard set-piece. They will try to take our set-piece play away ... they are a class act at that. They also have the likes of Jamie Booth, Otere Black and Rob Thompson in the backline who are all strong threats."
Parsons pointed out the Turbos are in a similar situation to the Magpies were when they faced the Turbos in their final outing of a disappointing 2017 season and recorded a 36-31 win.
"This season the boot is on the other foot. They have had an up and down season. They will want to get something back and could upset us.
"We've been building quite nicely. It's important we keep stepping up to a level where we will be competitive in the semifinals."
Parsons added that it has been a smooth week of training with those who missed the Christchurch trip fitting back in well.
Magpies head coach Mark Ozich said the five regular first-stringers who were rested last weekend, prop Ben May, loosies Gareth Evans and Marino Mikaele-Tu'u and midfielders Stacey Ili and Pasqualle Dunn, relished the physical respite and are energised and ready to go.
"The boys are buoyed by what the young guys did against Canterbury."
Hooker Ben Power is unavailable as he continues to recover from the head knock collected in the 49-24 loss to Canterbury.
Jason Long will provide hooking cover on the subs bench.
As expected winger Michael Buckley has retained a spot in the Magpies 23 after a memorable first starting XV appearance against Canterbury.
Buckley had an average gain of 9.6 metres off nine carries and beat three defenders.
"Michael is doing a good job and learning every day. The more the game went on against Canterbury the better he did," Ozich added.
With a full-strength team, the Magpies should be able to reduced their missed tackle count of 26 recorded in Christchurch as well as the turnovers conceded count of 13.
Tonight's curtain-raiser will see the Hawke's Bay Maori Legends team take on their Manawatu counterparts.
Second five-eighth for the Bay team and former Magpie Aayden Clarke said two key factors led to the staging of the game.
"Firstly, we want to raise the profile of Maori rugby in Hawke's Bay, the contribution to the game in the region by Maori and also the awareness in the community of Te Matau a Maui hosting the Maori regional tournament in 2019. This game will pull past players back together who may be able to help Hawke's Bay Maori rugby in some way.
"Secondly, this is also very much about reconnecting for the past players, of many eras. There is sometimes a gap and lack of opportunity for past players to get together with old friends and stay connected to the game of rugby.
"For a lot of the players, rugby was significant part of their lives and in our industry we need to foster that, do our best to keep these men talking with their mates, engaging and sharing. In other parts of my work this is very much a toll for avoiding disconnection and even depression. So hopefully this provides small steps to being a vehicle for that," Clarke said.
Teams for the 7.35pm match:
Hawke's Bay Magpies: JJ Taulagi, Jonah Lowe, Stacey Ili, Pasqualle Dunn, Mason Emerson, Lincoln McClutchie, Brad Weber, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Gareth Evans, Geoff Cridge, Michael Allardice, Tom Parsons, Ben May, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Mark Braidwood. Substitutes: Forwards, Jason Long, Joe Apikotoa, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Devan Flanders, Josh Kaifa. Backs, Folau Fakatava, Danny Toala, Michael Buckley.
Manawatu Turbos (likely): Sam Malcolm, Michael Tagicakibau, Rob Thompson, Hamish Northcott, Junior Laloifi, Otere Black, Jamie Booth, Brice Henderson, Antonio Kiri Kiri, Liam Mitchell, Tom Hughes, Liam Hallam-Eames, Michael Alaalatoa, Sam Stewart, Fraser Armstrong. Substitutes: Forwards, Tim Cadwallader, Faalelei Sione, Sean Paranihi, Nick Crosswell, Brad Tucker. Backs, Kayne Hammington, Jade Te Rure, James Tofa.
