From the 2002–03 season, Nikola finally stepped up on the big scene. He became a first team regular in Varteks and in the next 5 seasons he scored 32 goals in the domestic league only.
From the 2002–03 season, Nikola gained widespread recognition as a key player. He became an integral part of Varteks and scored 32 goals in the domestic league during the subsequent five years.