He is tipped to be handed the Maori Affairs portfolio and placed on the front bench as Labour prepares its line-up for the election.
In June Mr Jones was stripped of all of his shadow portfolios and demoted as punishment for using his ministerial credit card while in government for personal purchases, including porn movies at hotels, the costs of which he later repaid.
Although applauded for his repentance, Mr Jones has remained on the back benches since then with little to do.
When asked if Mr Jones could now expect to return in the planned New Year's reshuffle Labour leader Phil Goff said "absolutely."
Mr Goff indicated changes in the front bench.
Mr Jones is expected to benefit and first-term MP Grant Robertson is also expected to rise to the front bench.
Other first-termers understood to have impressed are Jacinda Ardern, Kelvin Davis and Stuart Nash.
Mr Jones is also likely to pick up the Maori Affairs portfolio from Parekura Horomia.
Mr Jones plans to stand against Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples in the Tamaki Makaurau seat in the election and getting the Maori Affairs shadow portfolio will allow him to tackle Dr Sharples head on.
However, that could depend on whether Mr Horomia decides to leave politics in 2011.
Mr Horomia and Nanaia Mahuta are both understood to be considering whether to stand again, and Labour's leadership will be wary of upsetting Mr Horomia, who holds one of only two Maori electorates Labour has managed to keep safe from the Maori Party.
Mr Goff would not be drawn on which individuals would be promoted but said he would base his decisions on the progress MPs had made in getting new policy together and on their performance holding the Government to account.
Mr Goff also said Prime Minister John Key's media coverage significantly outweighed his own.
"And in an election year I'll expect a lot more balance than that."
He was expecting a late November election after the Rugby World Cup.
"If the Government goes before November it will be a vote of no confidence in the All Blacks and that would be unwise, or a sign of panic that the economy is failing to deliver."
