Hickey has played 11 games this season, but he took a significant step against his old club Gold Coast last Sunday in his best game for the Saints.
Rucking against inexperienced Suns pair Daniel Gorringe and Charlie Dixon, McEvoy and Hickey won the hit-outs 42-21, playing a key role in their team's 46-point win.
It was a breakout performance in terms of the duo working effectively together.
"Against the Suns was probably the best it has worked for us," McEvoy told AFL.com.au.
"It's taken a while to build that relationship and just get used to playing with each other.
"You adjust your game style a bit compared to when you're doing most of the work yourself.
"The beauty of having two of you there, if one is having a bit of an off day, which can happen, you've got the support there.
"We're really keen to build that relationship."
St Kilda ranked last in the AFL for hit-out average differential in 2012 (-12), and its improvement this season has been marginal, moving to 17th (-7.8), ahead of the Suns.
There has been a clear lift in the second half of the season, however, with St Kilda winning the hit-outs in four of the six games Hickey has played since round 15.
"He's improved out of sight this year, which is great for us," McEvoy said.
"The last two weeks he's really stood up and started to play some really good footy.
"The next step is to improve our forward play, and then you just build that relationship, helping each other out.
"It'll just take a bit of time."
McEvoy and Hickey face a bigger challenge – literally – than their young Suns' opponents this week when they take on Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands.
Working in tandem against the Fremantle star, who will likely have support from Jack Hannath, it will be important for both to have an impact when forward.
"I’ve always been told for me to play I need to have an impact up forward," Hickey told Saints.com.au.
"I probably haven’t throughout the year but I am trying to get on the end of a few more goals.
After his improved showing against Gold Coast, Hickey agreed his on-field partnership with McEvoy was developing.
"Ben McEvoy and I are pretty good mates around the club," he said.
"It’s great to work together and I think we won the hit-outs [against Gold Coast], so that’s always a win and we get around each other after that."
Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
