I think you'll find teat 3.22 requires SQL SP4. You can download this from CCO and it has been tested with 3.0x, 3.1x and 3.2x. So in answer to your question, yes you can pre install the SQL SP a week or more in advance. We have recently gone to 3.14b and are running the SQL SP4 with no problems.
See URL for further details:
http://ftp-sj.cisco.com/cisco/crypto/3DES/voice/cmva/SQL7-ServicePack4.1-0-2Readme.htm
HTH
Dave