Hesketh (24) has scored tries in the last two games for Otago and also helped set up Ben Smith for Otago's other try against Manawatu last week.
He has been nearly unstoppable with the ball in hand, breaking tackles on the outsides and getting Otago on the front foot.
"I've just been getting round the paddock and hanging around inside the first five-eighth looking for the ball and trying to contribute where I can," Hesketh said.
Defensively, Otago needs Hesketh to make some more tackles and close his man down.
"With the defence, we're just trying to get our systems worked out and getting them in place so we can cut down teams.
"But it is not easy out on the wing.
Teams come up with different things all the time and you've got to be aware of it.
We are working on things before training and getting all the outsides together to work on the defence."
He said with so many high-quality wingers in action in the competition, every game was a test, both on attack and defence.
It doesn't get any easier this week, with Hesketh marking Rene Ranger, who was good enough to make the Blues this season and then the Junior All Blacks.
Hesketh scored seven tries for Otago in its campaign last year and was unlucky not to make the Highlanders.
"I was in the wider training squad this year and making the Highlanders is definitely the goal I'm looking at for this season."
A former loose forward and midfield back, Hesketh said the Otago squad was still buoyant despite only winning one of its first four games.
"The games we've played have been sort of funny as we are winning all the stats apart from the one that really matters.
"The guys are playing good rugby and we know we're not far away.
But there are no easy games.
Everyone is on their game and you have to be on your guard the whole game."
Nearing the end of an anatomy degree, Hesketh has also enrolled for business management papers at Otago Polytechnic.
The game against Northland was vital for the side, with Northland just one point ahead of Otago on the table, he said.
"This really is a must-win for us. We won't be taking them lightly. It is their first home game and they have got plenty to play for."
It has been something of a flatmate reunion for Hesketh over the past couple of weeks.
Last week, he marked Manawatu's Casey Stone, while tomorrow night Hesketh will play a Northland team containing Matt Clutterbuck.
All three played for Alhambra-Union and flatted together in Anzac Ave last year.
"Last week against Casey there was a bit of banter going on and some off-the-ball stuff."
Stone had the last laugh, scoring two tries in a Manawatu win.
Hesketh is hoping he will be the happier former flatmate this week.
