A system and method for early data pipeline lookup in large cache design is provided. An embodiment of the disclosure includes searching one or more tag entries of a tag array for a tag portion of the memory access request and simultaneously with searching the tag array, searching a data work queue of a data array by comparing a set identifier portion of the memory access request with one or more data work queue entries stored in the data work queue, generating a pending work indicator indicating whether at least one data work queue entry exists in the data work queue that corresponds to the set identifier portion, and sending the memory access request to the data array or storing the memory access request in a side buffer associated with the tag array based on the pending work indicator and a search result of the tag array search.