Nonu, utility back Trent Renata and prop Bronson Murray have all flown to Perth to join the side.
Coming home from South Africa are prop Chris King, midfielder Shaun Treeby and outside back Tony Ensor.
Ensor, who did not play a game in South Africa, has a sore groin, Treeby took a knock to the head in the loss to the Bulls, and King ruptured his right biceps late in the game.
Nonu, who turns 31 today, did not make the initial trip as he was bothered by a knee injury. But he has been working hard on getting it better and was declared fit to play late last week.
He did not play a club game in the weekend for fear of injury and is expected to line up on Saturday night.
If Nonu does play, the Highlanders could field 11 past or present All Blacks.
One-test All Black, Jamie Mackintosh, may be in doubt to line up, or even take a seat on the bench, after he twisted his knee against the Bulls.
The Highlanders will play the Force, in a bottom-of-the-table clash, on Saturday at 9.40pm (NZ time).
