However, Rock may yet force his way into the side as the Dublin management are no strangers to making changes to the selected team - last time out for the Leinster final win over Meath, O'Gara and Kevin O'Brien were named as late replacements before the throw-in.

Jonny Cooper and O'Brien have swapped wings in the full-back line this time, while Michael Darragh Macauley and Cian O'Sullivan continue their midfield partnership with Denis Bastick kept in reserve.

Alan Brogan (hamstring) and Cormac Costello (broken collarbone) were not considered for selection and although Alan's younger brother Bernard has failed so far this summer to match his Footballer of the Year-winning form of 2010 (certainly in a scoring sense), Gavin has full confidence in the corner forward.

"The data we get back shows Bernard is playing a very important role for us. His play is very good and he's been a great example to the younger players in the squad," explained Gavin.

"He's being double-marked consistently and has to work hard to get on the ball. That takes a big toll on any player. The times he's come off have been on a tactical basis and we've looked for something different.

"He is playing in a different system now, (but) Bernard has shown in the current system the potential to get big scores. As he did in the National League. He's a potent player if any team gives him space."

The Dubs were 1-18 to 2-9 winners over Cork in this season's league and have appeared in the All-Ireland quarter-finals every year except one (2003) since the new format was introduced in 2001.

DUBLIN (SFC v Cork): Stephen Cluxton; Jonny Cooper, Rory O'Carroll, Kevin O'Brien; James McCarthy, Ger Brennan, Jack McCaffrey; Michael Darragh Macauley, Cian O'Sullivan; Paul Flynn, Ciaran Kilkenny, Diarmuid Connolly; Paul Mannion, Eoghan O'Gara, Bernard Brogan.