And with King's Lynn lynchpin Tom Topinka riding as a guest in place of skipper Adrian Rymel, who was away on World Team Cup qualifying duty with the Czech Republic, there were some who were even predicting a possible Bandits' victory.
But Topinka apart, the rest of the team struggled to get to grips with the Loomer Road track, or for that matter the opposition, and in the end they went down to a very disappointing 18-point defeat.
Berwick had been boosted by an earlier than expected return to action for Scott Smith - he was injured at King's Lynn on Wednesday and amid fears that he would not be able to ride, Weymouth's Jay Herne had been drafted in as a reserve replacement.
Harne was officially named as the team's number eight, but in the absence of Tero Aarnio, who was riding for Finland in the same meeting as Rymel, Berwick never really got going at all.
Topinka proved to be the mainstay of the Bandits' side, his five rides producing 15 points.
He lost out to Klaus Jakobsen after a titanic battle when he was going for double points in heat 11, but by then Berwick were already 18 points adrift and the meeting had virtually slipped from their grasp.
For their part Stoke were solid without being impressive, with Ben Barker and Jakobsen the pick of the bunch.
Barker produced one barnstorming ride in heat 12 when he went from last to first within the space of one lap, but as he passed Makovsky, the Bandit fell and was excluded.
In the re-run the Potters took a 5-1 which was instantly reversed by Norbert Magosi and Topinka in 13, but by then it was simply too little too late.
Former Stoke rider Tony Atkin, who had a disappointing night otherwise, flew from the tapes and managed to hang on for a fine victory in heat 14, whilst Topinka just managed to hold off Barker on the line in 15.
Afterwards, Berwick boss Peter Waite said: "Yes it was disappointing. We lost by 18 points and that's a lot more than I expected from a team with our capabilities.
"Once again I would like to thank our guest Tom Topinka for his sterling efforts. This was the second time he had raced for us in recent weeks, and once again he did not let us down.
"I don't want to single out riders after a performance like that. Six of them only scored 22 points between them, and they know who wasn't on form."
Stoke - Barker 12+1, Jakobsen 12+1, Burrows 8+1, Kristensen 7+1, Moore 7+1, Evans 5+3, Stancl 4+2. Berwick - Topinka 15, Magosi 8, Atkin 5, Clews 5, Makovsky 3, Smith 1.
* Berwick are back in action in the Premier League at Scunthorpe tomorrow (Friday).
Adrian Rymel and Tero Aarnio should both be back for the Bandits, but against a Stags side including the likes of Richard Hall, Magnus Karlsson and Carl Wilkinson, the Borderers won't find the going easy.
Meanwhile, for the second weekend running there is no meeting planned for Shielfield.
There was no racing on Saturday past because of the British Grand Prix at Cardiff.
Originally Berwick had hoped to run their Bordernapolis individual this Saturday, but because of the club's inability to attract top quality riders - too many of them are involved in the Grand Prix qualifiers and do not wish to commit themselves at this stage of the season - the decision was taken to put the meeting back to later in the year, probably September.
Berwick boss Peter Waite said: "It is a disappointment to have to postpone the Bordernapolis at such short notice, but we really felt there was no alternative.
"We always try to get some top-line riders to race in the meeting, but because of it's timing this year - it is usually towards the end of the season - we have found it difficult to get them to come.
"We have now put it back to later in the year, probably September, which is the traditional time when it is normally held.
"Unfortunately, that means we do not have another home meeting this weekend. We have had one rain-off, the Grand Prix and now this, so by the time we race at home against Rye House on the 12th it will be the best part of a month since we raced on our own track."