The new Highlanders defence coach is in for a baptism of fire as his team faces arguably the most challenging opening rounds of any team in Super Rugby Pacific.
As if a first-up clash with the Blues — finalists last year, winners of 15 straight, loaded with attacking weapons — is not tricky enough, the Highlanders then face the defending champion Crusaders (in Melbourne, regrettably) and the potentially dangerous Chiefs in Hamilton.
It is a brutal start, added to the fact new rules designed to speed up and open up the game will put real acid on defence coaches to cope with what is thrown at them.
Dillon, who joined the Highlanders after a stint in Japan, is focused primarily on a positive start against the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
"They are a good side with ball players right across the park," he said.
"But so are we. I’m looking forward to them coming down here, and us putting on some rugby that represents our region."
Apart from various play clocks to eliminate wasted time, the big change to watch this year is opposing halfbacks not being allowed to pester the players at the base of the scrum.
It should mean more opportunities for rampaging loose forwards to cut loose — hence more pressure on the defence to be aware of the danger.
"You’ve just got to adapt," Dillon said.
"The change in the halfback not being able to go around and put pressure on the No 8 opens up for those big athletics 8s, so a bit of a change there.
"Defensively, our objective is to get the ball back or slow the ball down or get into a position where we can buy ourselves time to get better organised.
"Anything that speeds up the game, as a rugby purist, I love. As a defence coach, nothing really changes."
Dillon is as excited as some of the players as he prepares for his proper Highlanders debut.
His wife had never been to Dunedin, and the family was enjoying the change of scenery after the spell in Japan.
"I’ve been here under the roof, as a coach with Bay of Plenty.
"All the boys have just got a buzz to get back here in front of our home fans. You can feel the excitement."
The Highlanders have come through their pre-season campaign relatively unscathed.
Halfback talisman Aaron Smith remains on All Blacks leave, rising lock Fabian Holland is still a couple of weeks away from returning from his kneecap injury, midfielder Fetuli Paea is out for two or three games with a calf complaint and utility back Vilimoni Koroi is still recovering after knee surgery.
