1. An apparatus comprising: a dispatch queue configured to store and dispatch instructions; a lookahead pointer; and a microcode engine; wherein the lookahead pointer is configured to: scan the dispatch queue for microcode instructions; detect a microcode instruction; and convey the microcode instruction to the microcode engine; wherein the microcode engine is configured to crack the microcode instruction into one or more micro-ops, wherein the cracking occurs prior to the selection of the microcode instruction for dispatch by the dispatch queue.