Former assistant manager Martin 'Mad Dog' Allen stired things up between Reading and the Lancashire side last time the Royals played at Deepdale when he got his team to warm up in the same half of the field as Preston.
Nicky Forster can expect a torrid time too, he once rejected a move to the Lilywhites.
Dillon believes that Craig Brown's side will be tough to beat. He told readingfc.co.uk: "Over the past couple of years Preston have been a team that we've wanted to emulate.
"They got promotion from Division Two and then got into the play-offs for the Premiership, that's the type of thing we want to achieve.
"They've got a new stand up there now, there should be a good crowd up there. I think there's a little bit of rivalry in that we're both aspiring to the same things. They were well ahead of us but I think we're catching up now."
Commenting on the warm-up incident two years ago the Royals assistant boss added: "I've already spoken to someone up ther and asked them which end of the pitch they want us to warn-up in.
"I think we should show them respect. Respect is something I have always tried to instil in our players."