The Venezuela international, who the Jets signed from AEK Athens amid interest from Panathinaikos in September, has been sidelined since suffering the horrific injury against Brisbane Roar in late October.

However, Vargas returned to training last month and is now in contention to return, with Jets coach Ernie Merrick confirming he'd travel to Auckland to face the Nix.

"We've got our Venezuelan and our Argentinean back in the team," Merrick told the A-League Hour.

"They're both in the travelling squad going to Auckland, Pato Rodriguez and Ronny Vargas."

Rodriguez had missed several games with a calf strain and the pair's return is timely with Roy O'Donovan suspended and Andrew Nabbout departing to join Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan.

Merrick defended the club's decision to allow Nabbout to join the J.League club with only five rounds to play before the finals.

"It's a great opportunity for him," Merrick said. "Two years, great service to this club, he's scoring goals for fun now.

"He really wants that chance, so let's give him the chance to go overseas and see what he can do in a very big league with probably the biggest club over there.

"I think it's a good opportunity for him. I said that knowing we've got good back-up players."