Cape Town - Bulls centre Johann Sadie, who will play for the Cheetahs next season, says he knows full well he won't be guaranteed a place in the starting team.

The Cheetahs confirmed that Sadie will join them on November 1 this year.

It is believed he's unhappy with the lack of game time he received at the Bulls this season, which was apparently also the reason why he left the Stormers at the end of last year.

However, he told Volksblad that no promises have been made by his future union.

"There are no promises of playing time. I've chatted to Naka (Drotské - Cheetahs coach) and Hawies (Fourie - backline coach) and they made it clear that I'll have to work for my place.

"I prefer it that way, because one wants to make the team on merit," he said.

The 23-year-old has had an indifferent season since joining the Pretoria side at the end of last year. He has struggled to hold down a spot in the Bulls' 22-man squad after a season plagued by injury and a dip in form.

At the Cheetahs he'll compete with players like Robert Ebersohn, Andries Strauss and Barry Geel for a place in the midfield.