Gatland ended 12 trophy-laden years as head coach with a fourth-placed finish at the Rugby World Cup in Japan this month with Pivac now the man in charge.
Former Scarlets coach Pivac will take the helm with Wales against the Barbarians – who will have Gatland in their corner – at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on November 30.
“Warren has given Wayne a good platform and Wayne is an amazing coach,” said flanker Davies, who played under Pivac at the Scarlets and helped them to win the 2017 Guinness PRO12 title.
“I’m sure he’ll have a different style of play perhaps, but he’ll want the attitude that the players have shown to carry through.
“That’s probably the hardest thing for a coach to get out of players sometimes.
“Wayne’s a brilliant man manager. He’s been fantastic with us at the Scarlets and I think he will bring a style of play that will excite the fans and hopefully the players.
“I’ve loved playing under him at the Scarlets with the open style of play. When you get it right, it’s hard to stop.
“Hopefully the players who get selected can implement that style of play.”
On the legacy Gatland has left behind – which includes three Six Nations Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-finals – Davies added: “If you have an identity then it’s pretty special for any team.
“I just think he’s added a grit, perhaps, and a winning mentality. That’s what sport is all about.
“He has instilled that in most of the players he has coached so in fairness to him, he’s done one hell of a job.”
Davies, 29, made two starts and one appearance off the bench at the World Cup and now has eight Test caps to his name.
He hopes to build on that with Wales moving forward.
He said: “It’s just about desire and if you have that desire, then why not?
“Hopefully coaches want that desire and, if you get picked, then it’s just about building on what has been achieved so far.
“I’m sure everyone in that changing room will want more than what we achieved at this World Cup.
“Hopefully we can look at what we’ve done and remember this feeling of coming fourth, which isn’t good enough. I’m sure everyone will want to better that at the next one.”
