The Broughshane man will face Luke The Nuke at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on Saturday evening. On offer, is place in Sunday’s final against the winner of England’s James Wade and Wales’ Jonny Clayton.
Ahead of the showdown, Rock revealed that he a Littler are good friends.
The 24 year-old explained: “If I look at my phone, I bet he’s text me saying, see you in the semi-final boy, because me and Littler are very, very close and not a lot of people know that.”
The pair haven’t clashed since turning professional, but Rock has fond memories of a clash in Killarney long before either became household names.
Luke Littler poses with the trophy after winning night seven of the BetMGM Premier League at Utilita Arena
He said: “The first time we met was actually in Killarney before I won my tour card. Everybody had heard of him. He was in Lakeside, and I actually beat him 4-2 in that scenario. But in short format it means nothing.
“It was in the WDF where you start from, and I would say when he won his tour card that he’s matured a lot and we talk nearly every day.”
Looking ahead to the Saturday night clash, Rock said: “I’m not feeling any extra pressure, and he clearly doesn’t feel any pressure at all. I think personally between the two of us, it’ll be fireworks.”
“I’ll give it large if I’m well ahead. I’m not like that, everybody knows that.
“If I’m a good bit ahead and I feel it needs to be done, I’ll do it.
“If I’m still ahead and there’s no need to do it, there’s no need to do it.”
The world champion agrees that their friendship will have no impact on Saturday’s Semi-Final.
“We’ve been good friends for quite a while. We’re always in the backroom chatting and practising.
“I don’t think it really matters who you play, whether you’re friends or not. As soon as you’re on the stage, you’re no one’s friend. You’re there to do a job,” Littler told SportsBoom.co.uk.
The first Semi-Final – between Wade and Clayton – is scheduled to start at 8pm with Littler and Rock to follow soon after.